Font Size
John 21:18-23
Holman Christian Standard Bible
John 21:18-23
Holman Christian Standard Bible
18 “I assure you:(A) When you were young, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.” 19 He said this to signify by what kind of death(B) he would glorify God.[a](C) After saying this, He told him, “Follow Me!”(D)
Correcting a False Report
20 So Peter turned around and saw the disciple Jesus loved(E) following them. That disciple was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and asked, “Lord, who is the one that’s going to betray You?”(F) 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord—what about him?”
22 “If I want him to remain until I come,”(G) Jesus answered, “what is that to you? As for you, follow Me.”
23 So this report[b] spread to the brothers[c](H) that this disciple would not die.(I) Yet Jesus did not tell him that he would not die, but, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- John 21:19 Jesus predicts that Peter would be martyred. Church tradition says that Peter was crucified upside down.
- John 21:23 Lit this word
- John 21:23 The word brothers refers to the late first century Christian community.
John 21:18-23
New International Version
John 21:18-23
New International Version
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(A) by which Peter would glorify God.(B) Then he said to him, “Follow me!”(C)
20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved(D) was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”)(E) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return,(F) what is that to you? You must follow me.”(G) 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers(H) that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
John 21:18-23
King James Version
John 21:18-23
King James Version
18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
Read full chapter
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.