Peter Is Restored Three Times

15 Now when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs!” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Shepherd my sheep!” 17 He said to him a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed because he said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything! You know that I love you!” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep! 18 Truly, truly I say to you, when you were young, you tied your clothes[a] around yourself and walked wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will tie you up and carry you where you do not want to go.[b] 19 (Now he said this to indicate by what kind of death he would glorify God.) And after he[c] had said this, he said to him, “Follow me!”

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Footnotes

  1. John 21:18 The words “your clothes” are not in the Greek text but are implied
  2. John 21:18 *The words “to go” are not in the Greek text but are implied
  3. John 21:19 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had said”) which is understood as temporal

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.”(A)

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”(B)

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.”(C)

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?”(D) He said, “Lord, you know all things;(E) you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.(F) 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(G) by which Peter would glorify God.(H) Then he said to him, “Follow me!”(I)

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