John 21:15-25
New American Standard Bible
The Love Question
15 Now when they had (A)finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you [a](B)love Me more than these?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [b]love You.” He *said to him, “Tend (C)My lambs.” 16 He *said to him again, a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you [c]love Me?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [d]love You.” He *said to him, “(D)Shepherd My sheep.” 17 He *said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you [e]love Me?” Peter was [f]hurt because He said to him (E)the third time, “Do you [g]love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, (F)You know all things; You know that I [h]love You.” Jesus *said to him, “(G)Tend My sheep.
Our Times Are in His Hand
18 Truly, truly I tell you, when you were younger, you used to put on your belt and walk wherever you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will put your belt on you, and bring you where you do not want to go.” 19 Now He said this, (H)indicating by (I)what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had said this, He *said to him, “(J)Follow Me!”
20 Peter turned around and *saw the (K)disciple whom Jesus loved following them—the one who also had (L)leaned back on His chest at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who is betraying You?” 21 So Peter, upon seeing him, *said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” 22 Jesus *said to him, “If I want him to remain (M)until I come, what is that to you? You (N)follow Me!” 23 Therefore this [i]account went out among (O)the brothers, that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain (P)until I come, what is that to you?”
24 This is the disciple who (Q)is testifying about these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
25 But there are also (R)many other things which Jesus did, which, if they were written in detail, I expect that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- John 21:15 Gr agapao
- John 21:15 Gr phileo
- John 21:16 Gr agapao
- John 21:16 Gr phileo
- John 21:17 Gr phileo
- John 21:17 Or distressed
- John 21:17 Gr phileo
- John 21:17 Gr phileo
- John 21:23 Lit word
John 21:15-25
Amplified Bible
The Love Motivation
15 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these [others do—with total commitment and devotion]?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [a]love You [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend].” Jesus said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 Again He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with total commitment and devotion]?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend].” Jesus said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with a deep, personal affection for Me, as for a close friend]?” Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, “Do you [really] [b]love Me [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend]?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend].” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
Our Times Are in His Hand
18 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and walked wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and arms, and someone else will dress you, and carry you where you do not wish to go.” 19 Now He said this to indicate the [c]kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And after saying this, He said to him, “Follow Me [walk the same path of life that I have walked]!”
20 Peter turned and saw the [d]disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His chest at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray You?” 21 So when Peter saw him, he asked Jesus, “Lord, and what about this [e]man [what is in his future]?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If I want him to stay alive until I come [again], what is that to you? You follow Me!” 23 So this word went out among the brothers that this disciple (John) was not going to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not going to die, but only, “If I want him to stay alive until I come [again], what is that to you?”
24 This is the same [f]disciple who is testifying to these things and has recorded them; and we know [without any doubt] that his testimony is true.
25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were recorded [g]one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- John 21:15 As indicated by the amplifications, Peter uses a different Greek word for love (phileo) than Jesus does (agapao) in His first two questions to Peter (see note v 17).
- John 21:17 This time Jesus uses the same word for love that Peter previously used twice (phileo).
- John 21:19 Peter ministered some thirty years after the resurrection of Jesus. He was martyred in Rome by Emperor Nero in about a.d. 67. The Roman historian, Eusebius said that Peter was crucified upside down at his own request.
- John 21:20 John the Apostle. The mothers of Jesus and John, Mary and Salome, were related as sisters.
- John 21:21 It is believed that John was the only apostle to die of natural causes. He lived to the age of ninety-four and died in about a.d. 100.
- John 21:24 John the Apostle, author of this Gospel.
- John 21:25 Or in detail.
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