John 13:35 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,— "By loving one another sincerely and fervently, you shall prove yourselves my disciples, to the convictionofmankind,whocannotbutbe sensible that love is a distinguishing feature in my character. This will be the most acceptable, the most ornamental token of your relation to me; and I recommend it to you as the noblest badge of your profession." It is well known, that the founders of new societies always appoint some peculiar ornament, sign, or mode of living, by which their followers may be known from others. Our Lord seems to allude here to that custom, "Let love be the distinguishing badge of your profession." And so highly were the primitive Christians celebrated for this grace, that the inspired writer of the Acts informs us, ch. John 4:32. They were all of one heart, and one mind. And the ancient apologists for Christianity inform us, that thepersecutingheathensthemselvescouldnothelp crying out in rapture, on observing the prevalence of this grace among them, "See how these Christians love one another!"