³ After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them^(A) over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.^{(B) 4} On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait^(C) for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.^{(D) 5} For John baptized with^[a] water,^(E) but in a few days you will be baptized with^[b] the Holy Spirit.”^(F)

⁶ Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore^(G) the kingdom to Israel?”

⁷ He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.^{(H) 8} But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;^(I) and you will be my witnesses^(J) in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,^(K) and to the ends of the earth.”^(L)

⁹ After he said this, he was taken up^(M) before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

¹⁰ They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white^(N) stood beside them. ¹¹ “Men of Galilee,”^(O) they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back^(P) in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace^(A) be with you!”^{(B) 27} Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”^(C)

²⁸ Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed;^(D) blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”^(E)

The Purpose of John’s Gospel

³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs^(F) in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.^{(G) 31} But these are written that you may believe^[a](H) that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God,^(I) and that by believing you may have life in his name.^(J)

Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish

21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples,^(K) by the Sea of Galilee.^[b](L) It happened this way: ² Simon Peter, Thomas^(M) (also known as Didymus^[c]), Nathanael^(N) from Cana in Galilee,^(O) the sons of Zebedee,^(P) and two other disciples were together. ³ “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.^(Q)

⁴ Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.^(R)

⁵ He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

⁶ He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.^(S)

⁷ Then the disciple whom Jesus loved^(T) said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. ⁸ The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.^{[d] 9} When they landed, they saw a fire^(U) of burning coals there with fish on it,^(V) and some bread.

¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” ¹¹ So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. ¹² Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.^{(W) 14} This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples^(X) after he was raised from the dead.

Jesus Reinstates Peter

¹⁵ When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”^(Y)

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”^(Z)

¹⁶ Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”^(AA)

¹⁷ The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?”^(AB) He said, “Lord, you know all things;^(AC) you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.^{(AD) 18} Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹ Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death^(AE) by which Peter would glorify God.^(AF) Then he said to him, “Follow me!”^(AG)