Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples

21 After this Jesus (A)revealed himself (B)again to the disciples by (C)the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, (D)Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of (E)Cana in Galilee, (F)the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but (G)that night they caught nothing.

Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples (H)did not know that it was Jesus. (I)Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” (J)He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple (K)whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, (L)he put on his outer garment, for he was (M)stripped for work, and (N)threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards[a] off.

When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, (O)“Come and (P)have breakfast.” Now (Q)none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and (R)took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 (S)This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Jesus and Peter

15 When they had (T)finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, (U)“Simon, (V)son of John, (W)do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed (X)my lambs.” 16 He said to him 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, (Y)“Tend (Z)my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him (AA)the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, (AB)you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed (AC)my sheep. 18 (AD)Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, (AE)you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show (AF)by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, (AG)“Follow me.”

Jesus and the Beloved Apostle

20 Peter turned and saw (AH)the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, (AI)the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain (AJ)until (AK)I come, what is that to you? (AL)You follow me!” 23 So the saying spread abroad among (AM)the brothers[b] that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”

24 This is the disciple (AN)who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and (AO)we know (AP)that his testimony is true.

25 Now (AQ)there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that (AR)the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

Footnotes

  1. John 21:8 Greek two hundred cubits; a cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
  2. John 21:23 Or brothers and sisters

Jesus Appears to the Disciples in Galilee

21 After these things Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. Now he revealed himself[a] in this way: Simon Peter and Thomas (who was called Didymus)[b] and Nathanael from Cana in Galilee and the sons of Zebedee and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing!” They said to him, “We also are coming with you.” They went out and got into the boat, and during that night they caught nothing.

Now when it[c] was already early morning, Jesus stood on the beach. However, the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish to eat, do you?[d] They answered him, “No.” And he said to them, “Throw the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.”[e] So they threw it,[f] and were no longer able to haul it in from the large number of the fish.

Then that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” So Simon Peter, when he[g] heard that it was the Lord, tied around himself his outer garment (for he was naked)[h] and threw himself into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net of fish, because they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits[i] away.

So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire laid there, and a fish lying on it,[j] and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just now caught.” 11 So Simon Peter got into the boat[k] and hauled the net to the land, full of large fish—one hundred fifty-three—and although there[l] were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come, eat breakfast!” But none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they[m] knew that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it[n] to them, and the fish likewise. 14 This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he[o] had been raised from the dead.

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[p] 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.[q] 19 (Now he said this to indicate by what kind of death he would glorify God.) And after he[r] had said this, he said to him, “Follow me!”

Peter and the Other Disciple Jesus Loved

20 Peter turned and[s] saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them[t] (who also leaned back on his chest at the dinner and said, “Lord, who is the one betraying you?”) 21 So when he[u] saw this one, Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, but what about this one?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that[v] to you? You follow me!” 23 So this saying went out to the brothers that that disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that[w] to you?”

A Concluding Word of Testimony

24 This is the disciple who is testifying about these things, and who has written down these things. And we know that his testimony is true. 25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did, which—if they were written down one after the other—I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written.

Footnotes

  1. John 21:1 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  2. John 21:2 The Greek term means “the Twin”
  3. John 21:4 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was”)
  4. John 21:5 *The negative construction in Greek anticipates a negative answer here, indicated in the translation by the phrase “do you
  5. John 21:6 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  6. John 21:6 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  7. John 21:7 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal
  8. John 21:7 I.e., “he was naked underneath the outer garment,” which he tucked into his belt; alternatively, this could mean “for he was stripped for work”
  9. John 21:8 Approximately 100 yards or 92 meters, based on a cubit of 18 inches.
  10. John 21:9 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  11. John 21:11 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  12. John 21:11 Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“were”) which is understood as concessive
  13. John 21:12 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“knew”) which is understood as causal
  14. John 21:13 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  15. John 21:14 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had been raised”) which is understood as temporal
  16. John 21:18 The words “your clothes” are not in the Greek text but are implied
  17. John 21:18 *The words “to go” are not in the Greek text but are implied
  18. John 21:19 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had said”) which is understood as temporal
  19. John 21:20 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“turned”) has been translated as a finite verb
  20. John 21:20 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  21. John 21:21 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
  22. John 21:22 The words “is that” are not in the Greek text but are supplied in keeping with English style
  23. John 21:23 The words “is that” are not in the Greek text but are supplied in keeping with English style