John 21 · KJV
Aa

John 21

Breakfast by the sea

After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

In Galilee, Peter and six other disciples fish all night and catch nothing; at dawn a figure on the shore tells them to cast the net on the right side, and they haul in a huge catch. The beloved disciple recognises Jesus, and Peter jumps into the water. On shore Jesus has a charcoal fire with fish and bread, and serves them breakfast.

What does this mean?

"Children, have ye any meat?" (KJV) means "Friends, have you caught anything to eat?" "Naked" (KJV, WEB) probably means stripped for work, in a light undergarment. Two hundred cubits is about 90 metres (100 yards).

Historical context

Fishing on the Sea of Galilee was often done at night with nets. "The sons of Zebedee", James and John, are mentioned only here in John's Gospel. Luke 5 tells a similar story of a miraculous catch at the beginning of Jesus' ministry.

Why does it matter?

Many symbolic meanings have been proposed for the 153 fish, none certain. The meal of bread and fish recalls the feeding in chapter 6, and the charcoal fire recalls the fire where Peter denied Jesus (18:18).

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Jesus and Peter

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. 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. 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. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

After breakfast, Jesus asks Peter three times whether he loves him, and each time Peter says yes and Jesus tells him to feed or tend his sheep. Peter is hurt at being asked a third time. Jesus then hints at how Peter will die, and tells him, "Follow me."

What does this mean?

Two different Greek verbs for love are used. The KJV translates both as "love"; the WEB distinguishes "love" and "have affection". Interpreters differ on whether the variation is significant or simply stylistic. "Stretch forth thy hands" (KJV) was understood as a reference to crucifixion.

Historical context

Early Christian tradition says Peter died as a martyr in Rome, probably under the emperor Nero in the 60s, and later accounts say he was crucified. The narrator's comment suggests Peter's death had already happened when this was written.

Why does it matter?

The threefold question is widely understood as undoing Peter's threefold denial (18:17-27). The shepherd language recalls chapter 10: Peter is entrusted with caring for the flock of the good shepherd.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

The beloved disciple and the close of the Gospel

Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

Peter sees the beloved disciple following and asks what will happen to him. Jesus answers that if he wants him to remain until he returns, that is not Peter's concern. The narrator corrects a rumour that this disciple would not die, identifies him as the witness who wrote these things, and closes by saying the world could not hold all the books about what Jesus did.

What does this mean?

"Till I come" refers to Jesus' expected return. "We know that his testimony is true" speaks in a plural voice, apparently of a group vouching for the beloved disciple's witness.

Historical context

The Gospel itself is anonymous. Second-century Christian writers attributed it to John son of Zebedee, one of the Twelve; many modern scholars think it was shaped by a community connected with the beloved disciple, and its authorship and date remain debated.

Why does it matter?

The correction of the rumour suggests the beloved disciple had died, or was very old, when this chapter was written. The closing hyperbole echoes 20:30 and stresses that the Gospel is a deliberate selection, not a complete record.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

You’ve finished the Gospel of John.

21 chapters, 879 verses, read in order.

Return to the Gospels

Translation

KJVTraditional biblical languageWEBContemporary English

Chapters

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13
  14. 14
  15. 15
  16. 16
  17. 17
  18. 18
  19. 19
  20. 20
  21. 21

Back to the Gospels

Reading

Translation

KJVTraditional biblical languageWEBContemporary English

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Appearance

Verse numbersSmall numerals within the text
About John