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.”^(A)

²⁸ Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock^(A) of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.^(B) Be shepherds of the church of God,^[a](C) which he bought^(D) with his own blood.^[b](E)

² Be shepherds of God’s flock^(A) that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be;^(B) not pursuing dishonest gain,^(C) but eager to serve;

²⁵ For “you were like sheep going astray,”^[a](A) but now you have returned to the Shepherd^(B) and Overseer of your souls.^(C)

¹¹ “I am^(A) the good shepherd.^(B) The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.^{(C) 12} The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away.^(D) Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. ¹³ The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd;^(E) I know my sheep^(F) and my sheep know me— ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father^(G)—and I lay down my life for the sheep.^{(H) 16} I have other sheep^(I) that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock^(J) and one shepherd.^(K)

Benediction and Final Greetings

²⁰ Now may the God of peace,^(A) who through the blood of the eternal covenant^(B) brought back from the dead^(C) our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,^(D)

Peter’s Second and Third Denials^(A)

²⁵ Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself.^(B) So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”

He denied it, saying, “I am not.”^(C)