that people of a non-Jewish culture came in search of Christ: which would make them the first-fruits of the spread of the Christian faith in the hellenic world. This would make it easier to understand our Lord’s exclamation in verse 23, about his own glorification, which has to do not only with his being raised up to the right hand of the Father (cf. Phil 2:6–11) but also with his attracting all men to himself (cf. Jn 12:32). Jesus refers to “the hour” on other occasions also. Sometimes he means