John 21:15-17
New Catholic Bible
15 Jesus and Peter.[a] 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.
Footnotes
- 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 21:15-17
King James Version
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
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John 21:15-17
New International Version
Jesus Reinstates Peter
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”(A)
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”(B)
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.”(C)
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?”(D) He said, “Lord, you know all things;(E) you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.(F)
John 21:15-17
New King James Version
Jesus Restores Peter
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of [a]Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [b]love You.”
He said to him, (A)“Feed My lambs.”
16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of [c]Jonah, do you love Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [d]love You.”
(B)He said to him, “Tend My (C)sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of [e]Jonah, do you [f]love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, (D)You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- John 21:15 NU John
- John 21:15 have affection for
- John 21:16 NU John
- John 21:16 have affection for
- John 21:17 NU John
- John 21:17 have affection for
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.


