John 21
New Catholic Bible
Epilogue
Chapter 21
Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples.[a] 1 Some time later, Jesus once again revealed himself to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, in the following manner. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were gathered together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going out to fish.” The others replied, “We will go with you.” They set off and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Shortly after daybreak, Jesus was standing on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus called out, “Children, have you caught anything?” When they answered, “No,” 6 he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” They did so, and they were unable to haul the net on board because of the great number of fish.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard him say that it was the Lord, he wrapped his outer garment around him, for he had taken it off, and jumped into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from land, only about one hundred yards.
9 When they came ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 Simon Peter went on board and dragged the net ashore, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three of them. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
12 Jesus then said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then came forward, took the bread, and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus revealed himself to his disciples after his resurrection from the dead.
15 Jesus and Peter.[b] When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Jesus said to him again, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
17 Jesus said to him a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” “Lord,” he said to him, “you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
18 “Amen, amen, I say to you,
when you were young
you used to fasten your own belt
and you would go wherever you wished.
But when you grow old,
you will stretch out your hands,
and someone else will put a belt around you
and take you where you do not wish to go.”
19 He said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. After this, he said to him, “Follow me.”
20 The Beloved Disciple.[c] Peter looked around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them—the one who had reclined next to Jesus at the supper and had asked, “Lord, who is it that will betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus replied, “If it should be my will that he remain until I come, how does that concern you? Follow me!”
23 The saying then spread among the brethren that this disciple would not die. However, Jesus had not said to Peter, “He will not die,” but, “If it should be my will that he remain until I come, how does that concern you?”
24 Signature of the Redactors.[d] This is the disciple who testifies to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. 25 But there are also many other things that Jesus did; and if every one of them was recorded, I do not think the world itself could contain the books that would be written.
Footnotes
- John 21:1 This miraculous catch is the final “sign” given by Jesus. He does not reveal himself; he remains mysterious, but the true disciple is able to recognize him (see Jn 21:20).
- John 21:15 In this touching dialogue, Christ makes Peter a sign of his own perennial presence with his followers as their Good Shepherd (see ch. 10). Catholic tradition has seen in this passage the fulfillment of the promise made at Caesarea Philippi: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 16:17-19; see also Lk 22:31-32). The First Vatican Council made reference to vv. 15-17 in its definition that Jesus appointed Peter supreme shepherd and ruler over the whole flock.
- John 21:20 Peter will ultimately make the supreme sacrifice, but what will become of the beloved disciple of whom the fourth Gospel often speaks (Jn 13:23; 19:26-27; 20:2-10; see Jn 1:35-39; 18:15)? The first Christian generations still believed in the imminent return of Christ in glory (2 Thes 2), although they had not begun to experience the time of the Church. We no longer have the same preoccupation. However, the response made by Jesus still holds: what is important is to follow Christ faithfully.
- John 21:24 The faith of believers is a grace, but it goes back in history to those who were witnesses: those who saw the deeds and understood their meaning. Nonetheless, the life of Jesus goes beyond everything that can be written or said about him, even in a Gospel. Opening or closing the sacred writing, we are brought back to the encounter with Christ himself.
John 21
English Standard Version
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. 2 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. 3 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.
4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples (H)did not know that it was Jesus. 5 (I)Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 (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. 7 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. 8 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.
9 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
- John 21:8 Greek two hundred cubits; a cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
- John 21:23 Or brothers and sisters
John 21
New American Standard Bible
Jesus Appears at the Sea of Galilee
21 After these things Jesus [a](A)revealed Himself (B)again to the disciples at the (C)Sea of Tiberias, and He revealed Himself in this way: 2 Simon Peter, (D)Thomas who was called [b]Didymus, (E)Nathanael of (F)Cana in Galilee, (G)the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter *said to them, “I am going fishing.” They *said to him, “We are also coming with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and (H)that night they caught nothing.
4 But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not (I)know that it was Jesus. 5 So Jesus *said to them, “Children, (J)you do not have any fish to eat, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” 6 And He said to them, “(K)Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you will find the fish.” So they cast it, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great quantity of fish. 7 (L)Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved *said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about [c]two hundred cubits away, dragging the net full of fish.
9 So when they got out on the land, they *saw a charcoal (M)fire already [d]made and (N)fish placed on it, and bread. 10 Jesus *said to them, “Bring some of the (O)fish which you have now caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went up and hauled the net to land, full of large fish, 153; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus Provides
12 Jesus *said to them, “Come and have (P)breakfast.” None of the disciples ventured to inquire of Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus *came and *took (Q)the bread and *gave it to them, and the (R)fish likewise. 14 This was now the (S)third time that Jesus revealed Himself to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.
The Love Question
15 Now when they had (T)finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you [e](U)love Me more than these?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [f]love You.” He *said to him, “Tend (V)My lambs.” 16 He *said to him again, a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you [g]love Me?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [h]love You.” He *said to him, “(W)Shepherd My sheep.” 17 He *said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you [i]love Me?” Peter was [j]hurt because He said to him (X)the third time, “Do you [k]love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, (Y)You know all things; You know that I [l]love You.” Jesus *said to him, “(Z)Tend My sheep.
Our Times Are in His Hand
18 Truly, truly I tell you, when you were younger, you used to put on your belt and walk wherever you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will put your belt on you, and bring you where you do not want to go.” 19 Now He said this, (AA)indicating by (AB)what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had said this, He *said to him, “(AC)Follow Me!”
20 Peter turned around and *saw the (AD)disciple whom Jesus loved following them—the one who also had (AE)leaned back on His chest at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who is betraying You?” 21 So Peter, upon seeing him, *said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” 22 Jesus *said to him, “If I want him to remain (AF)until I come, what is that to you? You (AG)follow Me!” 23 Therefore this [m]account went out among (AH)the brothers, that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain (AI)until I come, what is that to you?”
24 This is the disciple who (AJ)is testifying about these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
25 But there are also (AK)many other things which Jesus did, which, if they were written in detail, I expect that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.
Footnotes
- John 21:1 Or made Himself visible
- John 21:2 I.e., the Twin
- John 21:8 About 100 yd. or 90 m; a cubit is about 18 in. or 45 cm
- John 21:9 Lit laid
- John 21:15 Gr agapao
- John 21:15 Gr phileo
- John 21:16 Gr agapao
- John 21:16 Gr phileo
- John 21:17 Gr phileo
- John 21:17 Or distressed
- John 21:17 Gr phileo
- John 21:17 Gr phileo
- John 21:23 Lit word
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