John 21
1599 Geneva Bible
21 1 Jesus appeareth to his disciples as they were fishing, 6, 7 whom they know by a miraculous draught of fishes. 15 He committeth the charge of the sheep to Peter, 18 and foretelleth him of the manner of his death.
1 After these things, [a]Jesus showed himself again to his disciples at the sea of Tiberias: and thus showed he himself:
2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas, which is called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples.
3 Simon Peter said unto them, I go a fishing. They said unto him, We also will go with thee. They went their way and entered into a ship straightway, and that night caught they nothing.
4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: nevertheless the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5 Jesus then said unto them, Sirs, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
6 Then he said unto them, Cast out the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. So they cast out, and they were not able at all to draw it, for the multitude of fishes.
7 Therefore said the disciple whom Jesus loved, unto Peter, It is the Lord. When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girded his [b]coat to him (for he was naked) and cast himself into the sea.
8 But the other disciples came by ship, (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits) and they drew the net with fishes.
9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw hot coals, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
10 Jesus said unto them, Bring of the fishes, which ye have now caught.
11 Simon Peter stepped forth and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred, fifty and three: and albeit there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
12 Jesus said unto them, Come, and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? seeing they knew that he was the Lord.
13 Jesus then came and took bread and gave them, and fish likewise.
14 This is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen again from the dead.
15 ¶ [c]So when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon the son of Jonah, lovest thou me more than these? He said unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He said unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He said to him again the second time, Simon the son of Jonah, lovest thou me? He said unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He said unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He said unto him [d]the third time, Simon the son of Jonah, lovest thou me? Peter was sorry because he said to him the third time, Lovest thou me? and said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus said unto him, Feed my sheep.
18 [e]Verily, verily I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou [f]girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thine hands, and another shall [g]gird thee, and lead thee without thou wouldest [h]not.
19 And this spake he signifying by what [i]death he should glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, Follow me.
20 [j]Then Peter turned about, and saw the disciple whom JESUS loved, following, which had also (A)leaned on his breast at supper, and had said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
21 When Peter therefore saw him, he said to Jesus, Lord, what shall this man do?
22 Jesus said unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is it to thee? follow thou me.
23 Then went this word abroad among the brethren, that this disciple should not die. Yet Jesus said not to him, He shall not die: but if I will that he tarry till I come, what is it to thee?
24 [k]This is that disciple, which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
25 (B)Now there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which if they should be written every one, I suppose the world could not contain the books that should be written, Amen.
Footnotes
- John 21:1 In that, that Christ here is not only present, but also eateth with his disciples, he giveth a most full assurance of his resurrection.
- John 21:7 It was a linen garment, which could not let his swimming.
- John 21:15 Peter by his triple confession is restored into his former degree from whence he fell by his triple denial: and therewithal is advertised, that he is indeed a pastor, which showeth his love to Christ in feeding his sheep.
- John 21:17 It was meet that he that had denied him thrice, should confess him thrice, that Peter might neither doubt of the forgiveness of his so grievous a sin, nor of his restoring to the office of the Apostleship.
- John 21:18 The violent death of Peter is foretold.
- John 21:18 They that took far journeys, especially in the East country, and in those places [where] the people used long garments, had need to be girded and trussed up.
- John 21:18 He meant that kind of girding which is used toward captives, when they are bound fast with cords and chains, as who would say, Now thou girdest thyself as thou thinkest best, to go whither thou listest, but the time will be, when thou shall not gird thee with a girdle, but another shall bind thee with chains, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
- John 21:18 Not that Peter suffered ought for the truth of God against his will: for we read that he came with joy and gladness when he returned from the Council where he was whipped: but because this will cometh not from the flesh, but from the gift of the Spirit which is given us from above, therefore he showeth there should be a certain striving and conflict or repugnancy, which also is in us, in all our sufferances as touching the flesh.
- John 21:19 That is, that Peter should die by a violent death.
- John 21:20 We must take heed, that while we cast our eyes upon others, we neglect not that which is enjoined us.
- John 21:24 The history of Christ is true and warily written: not for the curiosity of men, but for the salvation of the godly.
John 21
New Testament for Everyone
Jesus on the beach
21 After this, Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the sea of Tiberias. This was how he showed himself.
2 Simon Peter, Thomas (known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples, were all together.
3 Simon Peter spoke up.
“I’m going fishing,” he said.
“We’ll go with you,” they replied.
So they went off and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing.
4 As dawn was breaking, Jesus stood beside the seashore, but the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus.
5 “Children,” said Jesus to them, “haven’t you got anything to eat?”
“No!” they replied.
6 “Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” he said, “and you’ll find something.”
So they cast the net; and now they couldn’t draw it in because of the weight of the fish.
7 So the disciple that Jesus loved spoke to Peter.
“It’s the master!” he said.
When Simon Peter heard that it was the master, he wrapped his cloak around him (he had been naked for work), and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples brought the boat in to land, dragging the net full of fish. They weren’t far from shore, about a hundred yards away.
Breakfast by the shore
9 When they came to land, they saw a charcoal fire laid there, with fish and bread on it.
10 Jesus spoke to them.
“Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” he said.
11 So Simon Peter went and pulled the net onto the shore. It was full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three in all. The net wasn’t torn, even though there were so many.
12 “Come and have breakfast,” said Jesus to them.
None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the master.
13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so also with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus had appeared to the disciples after he had been raised from the dead.
Jesus and Peter
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus spoke to Simon Peter.
“Simon, son of John,” he said, “do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Master,” he said. “You know I’m your friend.”
“Well, then,” he said, “feed my lambs.”
16 “Simon, son of John,” said Jesus again, for a second time, “do you love me?”
“Yes, Master,” he said. “You know I’m your friend.”
“Well, then,” he said, “look after my sheep.”
17 “Simon, son of John,” said Jesus a third time, “are you my friend?”
Peter was upset that on this third time Jesus asked, “Are you my friend?”
“Master,” he said, “you know everything! You know I’m your friend!”
“Well, then,” said Jesus, “feed my sheep.
18 “I’m telling you the solemn truth,” he went on. “When you were young, you put on your own clothes and went about wherever you wanted. But when you are old, you’ll stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you up and take you where you don’t want to go.”
19 He said this to indicate the sort of death by which Peter would bring God glory. And when he had said this, he added, “Follow me!”
The beloved disciple
20 Peter turned and saw, following them, the disciple that Jesus loved. This was the disciple who had leaned back against Jesus’ chest at the supper, and had asked, “Master, who is it that’s going to betray you?”
21 “Master,” said Peter to Jesus, seeing him there, “what about him?”
22 “If it’s my intention,” replied Jesus, “that he should remain here until I come, what’s that got to do with you? You must follow me!”
23 So the rumor went around the Christian family that this disciple wouldn’t die. But Jesus didn’t say he wouldn’t die. What he said, rather, was this: “If it’s my intention that he should remain here until I come, what’s that got to do with you?”
24 (This is the disciple who is giving evidence about these things, and who wrote them down. We know that his evidence is true.)
25 There are many other things which Jesus did. If they were written down one by one, I don’t think the world itself would be able to contain the books that would be written.
John 21
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
IV. Epilogue: The Resurrection Appearance in Galilee
Chapter 21
The Appearance to the Seven Disciples. 1 [a]After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way.(A) 2 Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons,[b] and two others of his disciples. 3 [c]Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.(B) 4 When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.(C) 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.”(D) 6 So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. 7 So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. 9 [d](E)When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three[e] large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.(F) 12 Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him,[f] “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish.(G) 14 [g]This was now the third time(H) Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.
Jesus and Peter.[h] 15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,[i] “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”[j] He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He then 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, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had 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.(I) 18 [k]Amen, amen, I say to you,(J) when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”(K)
The Beloved Disciple. 20 Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved, the one who had also reclined upon his chest during the supper and had said, “Master, who is the one who will betray you?”(L) 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come?[l] What concern is it of yours? You follow me.”(M) 23 [m]So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die. But Jesus had not told him that he would not die, just “What if I want him to remain until I come? [What concern is it of yours?]”
Conclusion. 24 It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them,[n] and we know that his testimony is true.(N) 25 There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.(O)
Footnotes
- 21:1–23 There are many non-Johannine peculiarities in this chapter, some suggesting Lucan Greek style; yet this passage is closer to John than Jn 7:53–8:11. There are many Johannine features as well. Its closest parallels in the synoptic gospels are found in Lk 5:1–11 and Mt 14:28–31. Perhaps the tradition was ultimately derived from John but preserved by some disciple other than the writer of the rest of the gospel. The appearances narrated seem to be independent of those in Jn 20. Even if a later addition, the chapter was added before publication of the gospel, for it appears in all manuscripts.
- 21:2 Zebedee’s sons: the only reference to James and John in this gospel (but see note on Jn 1:37). Perhaps the phrase was originally a gloss to identify, among the five, the two others of his disciples. The anonymity of the latter phrase is more Johannine (Jn 1:35). The total of seven may suggest the community of the disciples in its fullness.
- 21:3–6 This may be a variant of Luke’s account of the catch of fish; see note on Lk 5:1–11.
- 21:9, 12–13 It is strange that Jesus already has fish since none have yet been brought ashore. This meal may have had eucharistic significance for early Christians since Jn 21:13 recalls Jn 6:11 which uses the vocabulary of Jesus’ action at the Last Supper; but see also note on Mt 14:19.
- 21:11 The exact number 153 is probably meant to have a symbolic meaning in relation to the apostles’ universal mission; Jerome claims that Greek zoologists catalogued 153 species of fish. Or 153 is the sum of the numbers from 1 to 17. Others invoke Ez 47:10.
- 21:12 None…dared to ask him: is Jesus’ appearance strange to them? Cf. Lk 24:16; Mk 16:12; Jn 20:14. The disciples do, however, recognize Jesus before the breaking of the bread (opposed to Lk 24:35).
- 21:14 This verse connects Jn 20 and 21; cf. Jn 20:19, 26.
- 21:15–23 This section constitutes Peter’s rehabilitation and emphasizes his role in the church.
- 21:15–17 In these three verses there is a remarkable variety of synonyms: two different Greek verbs for love (see note on Jn 15:13); two verbs for feed/tend; two nouns for sheep; two verbs for know. But apparently there is no difference of meaning. The threefold confession of Peter is meant to counteract his earlier threefold denial (Jn 18:17, 25, 27). The First Vatican Council cited these verses in defining that Jesus after his resurrection gave Peter the jurisdiction of supreme shepherd and ruler over the whole flock.
- 21:15 More than these: probably “more than these disciples do” rather than “more than you love them” or “more than you love these things [fishing, etc.].”
- 21:18 Originally probably a proverb about old age, now used as a figurative reference to the crucifixion of Peter.
- 21:22 Until I come: a reference to the parousia.
- 21:23 This whole scene takes on more significance if the disciple is already dead. The death of the apostolic generation caused problems in the church because of a belief that Jesus was to have returned first. Loss of faith sometimes resulted; cf. 2 Pt 3:4.
- 21:24 Who…has written them: this does not necessarily mean he wrote them with his own hand. The same expression is used in Jn 19:22 of Pilate, who certainly would not have written the inscription himself. We know: i.e., the Christian community; cf. Jn 1:14, 16.
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