1AfterG3326 these thingsG5023 JesusG2424 showedG5319 himselfG1438 againG3825 to the disciplesG3101 atG1909 the seaG2281 of TiberiasG5085; andG1161 in this mannerG3779 did he showG5319 himself. 2There wereG2258 togetherG3674 SimonG4613 PeterG4074, andG2532 ThomasG2381 calledG3004 DidymusG1324, andG2532 NathanaelG3482 ofG575 CanaG2580 in GalileeG1056, andG2532 the sonsG3588 of ZebedeeG2199, andG2532 twoG1417 othersG243 ofG1537 hisG846 disciplesG3101. 3SimonG4613 PeterG4074 saithG3004 to themG846, I am goingG5217 fishingG232. They sayG3004 to himG846, WeG2249 alsoG2532 goG2064 withG4862 theeG4671. They went forthG1831, andG2532 enteredG305 intoG1519 a boatG4143 immediatelyG2117; andG2532 thatG1722 G1565 nightG3571 they caughtG4084 nothingG3762. 4ButG1161 when the morningG4405 hadG1096 nowG2235 comeG1096, JesusG2424 stoodG2476 onG1519 the shoreG123: butG3305 the disciplesG3101 knewG1492 notG3756 thatG3754 it wasG2076 JesusG2424. 5ThenG3767 JesusG2424 saithG3004 to themG846, ChildrenG3813, have yeG2192 anyG3387 fishG4371? They answeredG611 himG846, NoG3756. 6AndG1161 he saidG2036 to themG846, CastG906 the netG1350 onG1519 the rightG1188 sideG3313 of the boatG4143, andG2532 ye shall findG2147. They castG906 thereforeG3767, andG2532 nowG3765 they wereG2480 notG3765 ableG2480 to drawG1670 itG846 forG575 the multitudeG4128 of fishesG2486. 7ThereforeG3767 thatG1565 discipleG3101 whomG3739 JesusG2424 lovedG25 saithG3004 to PeterG4074, It isG2076 the LordG2962. NowG3767 when SimonG4613 PeterG4074 heardG191 thatG3754 it wasG2076 the LordG2962, he girtG1241 on his fishermen’s coatG1903, (forG1063 he wasG2258 nakedG1131,) andG2532 castG906 himselfG1438 intoG1519 the seaG2281. 8AndG1161 the otherG243 disciplesG3101 cameG2064 in a little boatG4142; (forG1063 they wereG2258 notG3756 farG3112 fromG575 landG1093, butG235 as it wereG5613 G575 two hundredG1250 cubitsG4083,) draggingG4951 the netG1350 with fishesG2486. 9As soonG5613 thenG3767 as they had comeG576 toG1519 landG1093, they sawG991 a fire of coalsG439 there, andG2532 fishG3795 laidG2749 on themG1945, andG2532 breadG740. 10JesusG2424 saithG3004 to themG846, BringG5342 ofG575 the fishG3795 whichG3739 ye haveG4084 nowG3568 caughtG4084. 11SimonG4613 PeterG4074 went upG305, andG2532 drewG1670 the netG1350 toG1909 landG1093 fullG3324 of greatG3173 fishesG2486, an hundredG1540 and fiftyG4004 and threeG5140: andG2532 although there were so manyG5118, yet the netG1350 wasG5607 notG3756 brokenG4977. 12JesusG2424 saithG3004 to themG846, ComeG1205 and dineG709. AndG1161 noneG3762 of the disciplesG3101 daredG5111 askG1833 himG846, WhoG5101 artG1488 thouG4771? knowingG1492 thatG3754 it wasG2076 the LordG2962. 13JesusG2424 thenG3767 comethG2064, andG2532 takethG2983 breadG740, andG2532 givethG1325 themG846, andG2532 fishG3795 likewiseG3668. 14ThisG5124 isG5319 nowG2235 the third timeG5154 that JesusG2424 showed himselfG5319 to hisG846 disciplesG3101, after he had risenG1453 fromG1537 the deadG3498. 15SoG3767 whenG3753 they had dinedG709, JesusG2424 saithG3004 to SimonG4613 PeterG4074, SimonG4613, son of JonasG2495, lovest thouG25 meG3165 more thanG4119 theseG5130? He saithG3004 to himG846, YeaG3483, LordG2962; thouG4771 knowestG1492 thatG3754 I loveG5368 theeG4571. He saithG3004 to himG846, FeedG1006 myG3450 lambsG721. 16He saithG3004 to himG846 againG3825 the second timeG1208, SimonG4613, son of JonasG2495, lovest thouG25 meG3165? He saithG3004 to himG846, YeaG3483, LordG2962; thouG4771 knowestG1492 thatG3754 I loveG5368 theeG4571. He saithG3004 to himG846, FeedG4165 myG3450 sheepG4263. 17He saithG3004 to himG846 the thirdG5154 time, SimonG4613, son of JonasG2495, lovestG5368 thou meG3165? PeterG4074 was grievedG3076 becauseG3754 he saidG2036 to himG846 the thirdG5154 time, LovestG5368 thou meG3165? AndG2532 he saidG2036 to himG846, LordG2962, thouG4771 knowestG1492 all thingsG3956; thouG4771 knowestG1097 thatG3754 I loveG5368 theeG4571. JesusG2424 saithG3004 to himG846, FeedG1006 myG3450 sheepG4263. 18VerilyG281, verilyG281, I sayG3004 to theeG4671, WhenG3753 thou wastG2258 youngG3501, thou didst girdG2224 thyselfG4572, andG2532 didst walkG4043 whereG3699 thou wouldestG2309: butG1161 whenG3752 thou shalt be oldG1095, thou shalt stretch forthG1614 thyG4675 handsG5495, andG2532 anotherG243 shall girdG2224 theeG4571, andG2532 carryG5342 thee whereG3699 thou wouldestG2309 notG3756. 19ThisG5124 he spokeG2036, signifyingG4591 by whatG4169 deathG2288 he should glorifyG1392 GodG2316. AndG2532 when he had spokenG2036 thisG5124, he saithG3004 to himG846, FollowG190 meG3427. 20ThenG1161 PeterG4074, turning aboutG1994, seethG991 the discipleG3101 whomG3739 JesusG2424 lovedG25 followingG190; whoG3739 alsoG2532 leanedG377 onG1909 hisG846 breastG4738 atG1722 supperG1173, andG2532 saidG2036, LordG2962, whoG5101 is heG2076 that betrayethG3860 theeG4571? 21PeterG4074 seeingG1492 himG5126 saithG3004 to JesusG2424, LordG2962, andG1161 whatG5101 shall this manG3778 do? 22JesusG2424 saithG3004 to himG846, IfG1437 I willG2309 that heG846 shall tarryG3306 tillG2193 I comeG2064, whatG5101 is that toG4314 theeG4571? followG190 thouG4771 meG3427. 23ThenG3767 thisG3778 sayingG3056 went abroadG1831 amongG1519 the brethrenG80, thatG3754 thatG1565 discipleG3101 shouldG599 notG3756 dieG599: yetG2532 JesusG2424 saidG2036 notG3756 to himG3754 G846, He shallG599 notG3756 dieG599; butG235, IfG1437 I willG2309 that heG846 shall tarryG3306 tillG2193 I comeG2064, whatG5101 is that toG4314 theeG4571? 24ThisG3778 isG2076 the discipleG3101 whoG3588 testifiethG3140 ofG4012 these thingsG5130, andG2532 wroteG1125 these thingsG5023: andG2532 we knowG1492 thatG3754 hisG846 testimonyG3141 isG2076 trueG227. 25AndG1161 there areG2076 alsoG2532 manyG4183 other thingsG243 whichG3745 JesusG2424 didG4160, whichG3748, ifG1437 they should be writtenG1125 everyG2596 oneG1520, I supposeG3633 that evenG3761 the worldG2889 itselfG846 could notG3761 containG5562 the booksG975 that should be writtenG1125. AmenG281.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 SUPPLEMENTARY PARTICULARS. (John 21:1-23)
Jesus showed himself again--manifested himself again.
and on this wise he manifested himself--This way of speaking shows that after His resurrection He appeared to them but occasionally, unexpectedly, and in a way quite unearthly, though yet really and corporeally.
2 Nathanael--(See on
Matt 10:3).
3 Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing--(See on
Luke 5:11).
that night . . . caught nothing--as at the first miraculous draught (see on
Luke 5:5); no doubt so ordered that the miracle might strike them the more by contrast. The same principle is seen in operation throughout much of Christ's ministry, and is indeed a great law of God's spiritual procedure with His people.
4 Jesus stood--(Compare
John 20:19,
John 20:26).
but the disciples knew not it was Jesus--Perhaps there had been some considerable interval since the last manifestation, and having agreed to betake themselves to their secular employment, they would be unprepared to expect Him.
5 Children--This term would not necessarily identify Him, being not unusual from any superior; but when they did recognize Him, they would feel it sweetly like Himself.
have ye any meat?--provisions, supplies, meaning fish.
They answered . . . No--This was in His wonted style, making them tell their case, and so the better prepare them for what was coming.
6 he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship--no doubt, by this very specific direction, intending to reveal to them His knowledge of the deep and power over it.
7 that disciple whom Jesus loved, said, It is the Lord--again having the advantage of his brother in quickness of recognition (see on
John 20:8), to be followed by an alacrity in Peter all his own.
he was naked--his vest only on, worn next the body.
cast himself into the sea--the shallow part, not more than a hundred yards from the water's edge (
John 21:8), not meaning therefore to swim, but to get sooner to Jesus than in the full boat which they could hardly draw to shore.
8 the other disciples came in a little ship--by ship.
9 they saw--"see."
a fire of coals, and fish laid thereon, and bread--By comparing this with
1Kgs 19:6, and similar passages, the unseen agency by which Jesus made this provision will appear evident.
10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish ye have now caught--Observe the double supply thus provided--His and theirs. The meaning of this will perhaps appear presently.
11 Peter went up--into the boat; went aboard.
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--The manifest reference here to the former miraculous draught (
Luke 5:1-
Luke 5:11) furnishes the key to this scene. There the draught was symbolical of the success of their future ministry: While "Peter and all that were with him were astonished at the draught of the fishes which they had taken, Jesus said unto him, Fear not, from henceforth thou shalt catch men." Nay, when first called, in the act of "casting their net into the sea, for they were fishers," the same symbolic reference was made to their secular occupation: "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men" (
Matt 4:18-
Matt 4:19). Here, then, if but the same symbolic reference be kept in view, the design of the whole scene will, we think, be clear. The multitude and the size of the fishes they caught symbolically foreshadowed the vast success of their now fast approaching ministry, and this only as a beginning of successive draughts, through the agency of a Christian ministry, till, "as the waters cover the sea, the earth should be full of the knowledge of the Lord." And whereas, at the first miraculous draught, the net "was breaking" through the weight of what it contained--expressive of the difficulty with which, after they had 'caught men,' they would be able to retain, or keep them from escaping back into the world--while here, "for all they were so many, yet was not the net broken," are we not reminded of such sayings as these (
John 10:28): "I give unto My sheep eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of My hand" [LUTHARDT]? But it is not through the agency of a Christian ministry that all true disciples are gathered. Jesus Himself, by unseen methods, gathers some, who afterwards are recognized by the constituted fishers of men, and mingle with the fruit of their labors. And are not these symbolized by that portion of our Galilean repast which the fishers found, in some unseen way, made ready to their hand?
12 none . . . durst ask him, Who art thou, knowing it was the Lord--implying that they would have liked Him just to say, "It is I"; but having such convincing evidence they were afraid of being "upbraided for their unbelief and hardness of heart" if they ventured to put the question.
13 Jesus . . . taketh bread--the bread.
and giveth them, and the fish likewise--(See on
Luke 24:30).
14 This is the third time that Jesus showed himself--was manifested.
to his disciples--His assembled disciples; for if we reckon His appearances to individual disciples, they were more.
15 when they had dined, Jesus saith--Silence appears to have reigned during the meal; unbroken on His part, that by their mute observation of Him they might have their assurance of His identity the more confirmed; and on theirs, from reverential shrinking to speak till He did.
Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?--referring lovingly to those sad words of Peter, shortly before denying his Lord, "Though all men shall be offended because of Thee, yet will I never be offended" (
Matt 26:33), and intending by this allusion to bring the whole scene vividly before his mind and put him to shame.
Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee--He adds not, "more than these," but prefixes a touching appeal to the Saviour's own omniscience for the truth of his protestation, which makes it a totally different kind of speech from his former.
He saith unto him, Feed my lambs--It is surely wrong to view this term as a mere diminutive of affection, and as meaning the same thing as "the sheep" [WEBSTER and WILKINSON]. It is much more according to usage to understand by the "lambs," young and tender disciples, whether in age or Christian standing (
Isa 40:11;
1John 2:12-13), and by the "sheep" the more mature. Shall we say (with many) that Peter was here reinstated in office? Not exactly, since he was not actually excluded from it. But after such conduct as his, the deep wound which the honor of Christ had received, the stain brought on his office, the damage done to his high standing among his brethren, and even his own comfort, in prospect of the great work before him, required some such renewal of his call and re-establishment of his position as this.
16 He saith to him . . . the second time . . . lovest thou me, &c.--In this repetition of the question, though the wound was meant to be reopened, the words "more than these" are not repeated; for Christ is a tender as well as skilful Physician, and Peter's silence on that point was confession enough of his sin and folly. On Peter's repeating his protestation in the same words, our Lord rises higher in the manifestation of His restoring grace.
Feed--keep.
my sheep--It has been observed that the word here is studiously changed, from one signifying simply to feed, to one signifying to tend as a shepherd, denoting the abiding exercise of that vocation, and in its highest functions.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said the third time, &c.--This was the Physician's deepest incision into the wound, while yet smarting under the two former probings. Not till now would Peter discern the object of this succession of thrusts. The third time reveals it all, bringing up such a rush of dreadful recollections before his view, of his "thrice denying that he knew Him," that he feels it to the quick. It was fitting that he should; it was meant that he should. But this accomplished, the painful dialogue concludes with a delightful "Feed My sheep"; as if He should say, "Now, Simon, the last speck of the cloud which overhung thee since that night of nights is dispelled: Henceforth thou art to Me and to My work as if no such scene had ever happened."
18 When thou wast young--embracing the whole period of life to the verge of old age.
thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest--wast thine own master.
when . . . old thou shalt stretch forth thine hands--to be bound for execution, though not necessarily meaning on a cross. There is no reason, however, to doubt the very early tradition that Peter's death was by crucifixion.
19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God--not, therefore, a mere prediction of the manner of his death, but of the honor to be conferred upon him by dying for his Master. And, indeed, beyond doubt, this prediction was intended to follow up his triple restoration:--"Yes, Simon, thou shall not only feed My lambs, and feed My sheep, but after a long career of such service, shalt be counted worthy to die for the name of the Lord Jesus."
And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me--By thus connecting the utterance of this prediction with the invitation to follow Him, the Evangelist would indicate the deeper sense in which the call was understood, not merely to go along with Him at that moment, but to come after Him, "taking up his cross."
20 Peter, turning about--showing that he followed immediately as directed.
seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on Jesus' breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?--The Evangelist makes these allusions to the peculiar familiarity to which he had been admitted on the most memorable of all occasions, perhaps lovingly to account for Peter's somewhat forward question about him to Jesus; which is the rather probable, as it was at Peter's suggestion that he put the question about the traitor which he here recalls (
John 13:24-
John 13:25).
21 Peter . . . saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?--What of this man? or, How shall it fare with him?
22 Jesus saith to him, If I will that he tarry fill I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me--From the fact that John alone of the Twelve survived the destruction of Jerusalem, and so witnessed the commencement of that series of events which belongs to "the last days," many good interpreters think that this is a virtual prediction of fact, and not a mere supposition. But this is very doubtful, and it seems more natural to consider our Lord as intending to give no positive indication of John's fate at all, but to signify that this was a matter which belonged to the Master of both, who would disclose or conceal it as He thought proper, and that Peter's part was to mind his own affairs. Accordingly, in "follow thou Me," the word "thou" is emphatic. Observe the absolute disposal of human life which Christ claims: "If I will that he tarry till I come," &c.
23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die--into which they the more easily fell from the prevalent expectation that Christ's second coming was then near at hand.
yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die--The Evangelist is jealous for His Master's honor, which his death might be thought to compromise if such a misunderstanding should not be corrected.
24 FINAL CLOSE OF THIS GOSPEL. (
John 21:24-
John 21:25)
This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things--thus identifying the author of this book with all that it says of this disciple.
we know that his testimony is true--(Compare
John 19:35).
25 And there are many other things which Jesus did--(Compare
John 20:30-
John 20:31).
if . . . written every one, I suppose--an expression used to show that what follows is not to be pressed too far.
even the world itself would not hold the books, &c.--not a mere hyperbolical expression, unlike the sublime simplicity of this writer, but intended to let his reader know that, even now that he had done, he felt his materials so far from being exhausted, that he was still running over, and could multiply "Gospels" to almost any extent within the strict limits of what "Jesus did." But in the limitation of these matchless histories, in point of number, there is as much of that divine wisdom which has presided over and pervades the living oracles, as in their variety and fulness.