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John 1:47-51 (ANIV)
47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.”
48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig-tree before Philip called you.”
49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
50 Jesus said, “You believe [1] because I told you I saw you under the fig-tree. You shall see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “I tell you [2] the truth, you [3] shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

[1]
Or, Do you believe …?

[2]
The Greek is plural.

[3]
The Greek is plural.

DRAWING NOTES:

TIME OF DAY:
Unspecified in the Bible narrative. I have set this scene in the early afternoon.

LIGHTING NOTES:
The sun (high up & on the left (in the west) illuminates this scene, casting shadows to the right (towards the east) & below figures & objects.

CHARACTERS PRESENT:
In the foreground, from left to right: Andrew, Simon/Peter, John (son of Zebedee), Bartholomew/Nathaniel, Nathanael, Philip, Jesus the Christ.
To the right of Jesus there are three Hebrew fishermen, by their boat.
In the background are various Hebrew people.

RESEARCH/ADDITIONAL NOTES:
This scene shows Jesus & the first disciples standing on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, with the fishing town of Bethsaida in the background. Bethsaida was located on the North Eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus has his arms wide as he says “…You shall see greater things than that…”

In verse 47 Jesus here makes a wordplay on the Old Testament Jacob, or “Israel,” who was a man of guile (Genesis 27:35; Genesis 31:26).

“Teachers often taught disciples under trees, which were popular for this and other purposes because of their shade. But Jesus’ knowing which tree Nathanael had sat under is a demonstration of genuine supernatural knowledge. On this knowledge see comment on John 1:42 and John 2:24-25.

The opening of the heavens indicated a major revelation (e.g., Ezekiel 1:1). Jesus’ words allude to Genesis 28:12: Jesus is the new way between heaven and earth (Jacob’s ladder) on whom angels ascend and descend; like Jacob of old, this “genuine Israelite” Nathanael (John 1:47) would receive this new revelation.”
[Source: Bible Background Commentary]

Here is the initial pencil sketch of this scene.

John 01 – Jesus’ first disciples – Scene 05 – You shall see greater things – Greyscale

Here is the scene without the figures.

John 01 – Jesus’ first disciples – Scene 05 – You shall see greater things – Background