John 21
Expanded Bible
Jesus Appears to Seven Followers
21 ·Later [L After these things], Jesus ·showed [revealed] himself to his ·followers [disciples] again—this time at ·Lake Galilee [L the Sea of Tiberias; C an alternate name of Lake/the Sea of Galilee]. This is how he ·showed [revealed] himself: 2 Some of the ·followers [disciples] were together: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus [C meaning “the Twin”]), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the two sons of Zebedee [C James and John], and two other ·followers [disciples]. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going out to fish.”
The others said [L to him], “We will go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat. They fished that night but caught nothing.
4 ·Early the next morning [Just at daybreak] Jesus stood on the shore, but the ·followers [disciples] did not ·know [realize] it was Jesus. 5 Then he said to them, “·Friends [L Children; C a term of endearment], did you catch any fish?”
They answered, “No.”
6 He said to them, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they did, and they caught so many fish they could not pull the net back into the boat.
7 The ·follower [disciple] whom Jesus loved [C John] said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” [L So] When Peter heard him say this, he wrapped his ·coat [outer garment] around himself. (·Peter had taken his clothes off [L for he was naked].) Then he jumped into the ·water [L sea; lake]. 8 The other ·followers [disciples] went to shore in the boat, ·dragging [towing] the net full of fish. They were not very far from shore, only about a hundred yards [L two hundred cubits]. 9 When the ·followers [disciples] ·stepped out of the boat and onto the shore [landed; disembarked], they saw a fire of hot coals. There were fish on the fire, and there was bread.
10 Then Jesus said [L to them], “Bring some of the fish you just caught.”
11 Simon Peter went into the boat and ·pulled [hauled] the net to the shore. It was full of big fish, one hundred fifty-three in all, but even though there were so many, the net did not tear. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and ·eat [or have breakfast].” None of the followers dared ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, along with the fish.
14 This was now the third time [C see 20:19–23; 20:26–29] Jesus ·showed [revealed; manifested] himself to his ·followers [disciples] after he was raised from the dead.
Jesus Talks to Peter
15 When they finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” [C “These” probably refers to the other disciples (rather than the fishing gear), and could mean “Do you love me more than you love your friends?” or “Do you love me more than they love me?” The latter is more likely. This whole scene is the restoration of Peter after he had boasted of his loyalty to Jesus and then denied him.]
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
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 [Tend; Shepherd] my sheep.”
17 A third time he said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter ·was hurt [grieved] because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” Peter said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!”
He said to him, “Feed my sheep. [C In verses 15 and 16 Jesus uses a different word for “love” (agapaō) than Peter uses (phileō); but then in v. 17 Jesus uses Peter’s word (phileō). The two terms can be synonymous, and the difference is probably stylistic. The passage is not contrasting two kinds of love; rather, Peter’s three affirmations counterbalance his three denials; see 18:15–18, 25–27] 18 ·I tell you the truth [L Truly, truly I say to you], when you were younger, you ·tied your own belt [dressed yourself] and went where you wanted. But when you are old, you will put out your hands and someone else will ·tie [dress] you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 (Jesus said this to ·show [indicate; signify] how Peter would die to ·give glory to [glorify] God.) Then Jesus said to Peter, “Follow me!”
20 Peter turned and saw that the ·follower [disciple] Jesus loved [C John] was ·walking behind them [following]. (This was the ·follower [disciple] who had leaned against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who will ·turn against [betray] you?” [see 13:24–25]) 21 When Peter saw him behind them, he asked Jesus, “Lord, what about him?”
22 Jesus answered [L him], “If I want him to live until I come back, ·that is not your business [L what is that to you?]. You follow me.”
23 So a ·story [rumor; report; saying; L word] spread among the ·followers [disciples; L brothers] that this one would not die. But Jesus did not say he would not die. He only said, “If I want him to live until I come back, ·that is not your business [what is that to you?].”
24 That ·follower [disciple] is the one who ·is telling [witnesses/testifies to] these things and who has now written them down. We know that ·what he says [his testimony/witness] is true.
25 There are many other things Jesus did. If every one of them were written down, I suppose the whole world would not be big enough for all the books that would be written.
John 21
Amplified Bible
Jesus Appears at the Sea of Galilee
21 After this Jesus revealed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias (Galilee). And He did it in this way: 2 Simon Peter, and Thomas who is called Didymus (the twin), and Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, as well as [John and James] the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said, “And we are coming with you.” So they went out and got into the boat; and [a]that night they caught nothing.
4 As morning was breaking, Jesus [came and] stood on the beach; however, the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 So Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish [to eat along with your bread]?” They answered, “No.” 6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat (starboard) and you will find some.” So they cast [the net], and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great catch of fish. 7 Then that disciple (John) whom Jesus loved (esteemed) said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer tunic (for he was stripped for work) and threw himself into the sea [and swam ashore]. 8 But the other disciples came in the small boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.
9 So when they got out on the beach, they saw a charcoal fire set up and fish on it cooking, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three [of them]; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus Provides
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared to ask Him, “Who are You?” They knew [without any doubt] that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples, after He had risen from the dead.
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 [b]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] [c]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 [d]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 [e]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 [f]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 [g]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 [h]one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
Footnotes
- John 21:3 Fishing at night was commonplace and normally productive.
- 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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