John 21

John 21:1–14 (ESV)

1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, 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 that night they caught nothing. 4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 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 whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” 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 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 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, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.”

John Appearances

Appearances

1. To Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9; John 20:11–18).

2. To the women (Matt. 28:9, 10).

3. To Cleopas and his companion (Luke 24:13–35).

4. To Simon (Luke 24:34; 1 Cor. 15:15).

5. To the disciples except Thomas (John 20:19–23).

6. To the disciples, Thomas being present (John 20:24–29).

All of these occurred in Jerusalem. After the disciples have gone to Galilee, in obedience to the instructions which they had received from the Lord, Jesus appears again:

7. To the seven at the Sea of Tiberias (21:1–14).

8. To the disciples on a “mountain” in Galilee, where Jesus made a great claim, gave the great commission, and proclaimed the great presence (Matt. 28:16–20). By many commentators this appearance is identified with Number 9.

9. To the five hundred (1 Cor. 15:6).

10. To James, the Lord’s brother (1 Cor. 15:7). Whether this took place in Galilee or in Judea is not stated.

The disciples having returned to Jerusalem:

11. To the eleven on Olivet, near Jerusalem (Acts 1:4–11; cf. Luke 24:50, 51).

The next appearance that is specifically recorded is by the Lord from heaven:

12. To Paul, when he was on his way to Damascus (Acts 9:3–7; 22:6–10; 26:12–18; 1 Cor. 9:1; 15:8).

There may have been several others. How many there were we do not know (cf. Acts 1:3).

John 21:1–13 (ESV)

1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way.

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 21

21:1 After this (cf. 5:1; 6:1). With the weeklong festival of Unleavened Bread now past, the disciples have left Jerusalem and returned to Galilee (see note on 20:26; cf. Luke 2:43). Regarding the reference to the Sea of Tiberias, see note on John 6:1.

2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 21)

21:2 Simon Peter See note on Matt 10:2. Peter had denied Jesus three times, just as Jesus had prophesied.

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 21)

Thomas See note on John 20:24. Thomas had doubted that Jesus was resurrected when the others told him that they had seen Him.

Nathanael See 1:45. Nathaniel had acknowledged Jesus as the king of Israel early on (1:49), but he had initially doubted Philip’s claim that the Messiah had come from Nazareth (1:45).

Both John and Nathanael had followed Jesus until His death. In contrast, Peter and Thomas had turned away from Jesus at points.

21:2 The names of the sons of Zebedee are given in the Synoptics as James and John (e.g., Matt. 4:21 par.). Luke mentions that they were “partners with Simon” in fishing prior to being called by Jesus (Luke 5:10). See also note on John 1:40.

Cana in Galilee The village where Jesus performed His first miracle (see note on 2:1), which began His ministry in the Gospel of John (see 2:1–12 and note). The only ministry work Jesus did prior to this was calling His disciples (1:35–42).

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 that night they caught nothing.

The ESV Study Bible (Chapter 21)

21:3 boat. See note on Matt. 4:21. Night was the preferred time of day for fishing in ancient times (e.g., Luke 5:5). Fish caught during the night could be sold fresh in the morning.

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 21)

21:3 I am going fishing Peter returns to his original occupation. As a leader of the group, he leads the others to do the same (Mark 1:16–20).

Miracles Unique to John’s Gospel

Water to Wine, John 2:1–11

Official’s Son Healed, 4:46–52

Paralytic Healed, 5:1–13

Blind Man Healed, 9:1–12

Lazarus Raised, 11:38–44

Great Catch of Fish, 21:1–14

4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.”

6 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.

Luke 5:4–8 (ESV)

4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” 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.

21:7 The disciple whom Jesus loved must be one of the seven mentioned in v. 2 above, which includes the sons of Zebedee, and is almost certainly John the son of Zebedee, the author of the Gospel (see Introduction: Author and Title; and note on v. 24).

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 off.

9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread.

The ESV Study Bible (Chapter 21)

21:9 charcoal fire. See 18:18. Peter was around a charcoal fire when he denied Jesus.

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.

21:11 Various attempts have been made to interpret the number 153 symbolically, but more likely it simply represents the number of fish counted. Fishermen routinely counted the number of fish prior to selling them fresh at the market (see note on v. 3).

12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.

13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.

John 21:14 “14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.”

21:13 took the bread This might have reminded Jesus’ disciples of their last meal together.

21:14 third time John is probably referring to the first two appearances mentioned in his Gospel (20:19–23, 26–29).

John 21:15–19 ESV

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed 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, “Tend 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 the 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. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, 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 by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

John 21:15–19 (ESV)

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed 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, “Tend 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 the 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.

New Testament 21:15–23—Two Commissions

21:15–17. The two Greek words for “love” here are used interchangeably elsewhere in John and generally in the literature of this period; the point is not (against some interpreters) in the different terms, but that love for Jesus must be demonstrated by obedience to his call and service to his people. As a “follower,” Peter is one of the sheep himself (10:4; on “sheep” see comment on Jn 10:1–18; for the background on faithful shepherds to feed them, see Jer 23:4; cf. Ezek 34).

18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, 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 by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

New Testament (21:15–23—Two Commissions)

New Testament 21:15–23—Two Commissions

21:18–19. Predictions in antiquity were often enigmatic; this one indicates that Peter will not have control even over dressing himself for a journey—in this case, being prepared for execution. For “glorifying” God like Jesus in martyrdom, see 12:23–27; strong tradition declares that Peter was crucified in Rome under Nero about A.D. 64.

21:18–19. Predictions in antiquity were often enigmatic; this one indicates that Peter will not have control even over dressing himself for a journey—in this case, being prepared for execution. For “glorifying” God like Jesus in martyrdom, see 12:23–27; strong tradition declares that Peter was crucified in Rome under Nero about A.D. 64.

John 21:20–25 (ESV)

Jesus and the Beloved Apostle

20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, 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 until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” 23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers 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 who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

John 21:20–25 (ESV)

20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, 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?”

New Testament (21:15–23—Two Commissions)

21:20–23. The tradition about the beloved disciple’s call was that Jesus told Peter, “It’s none of your business,” but this tradition was misinterpreted to mean that the beloved disciple would live till Jesus’ return. The point is that Jesus has the right to choose who will be martyred and who will survive. According to strong (though not unanimous) tradition, John was one of the few original apostles to escape martyrdom.

22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”

23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers 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 who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

21:24. Greco-Roman and Jewish legal documents typically ended with attestation by witnesses. “We know that his witness is true” may be a postscript added by John’s own disciples, attesting to the veracity of his eyewitness, although it is not beyond John to write such words himself (19:35; cf. the plural witness in 1 John, e.g., 1:1–4).

25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

New Testament (21:24–25—Attestation of Witnesses)

21:25. When writers had more data before them than they could record, they often noted that they were being selective. Greek, Jewish and Samaritan writers included hyperboles like this one as well, sometimes speaking of how the world could not contain the knowledge a particular rabbi had of the law, and so forth.