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John · Bible in Basic English

John 21 Bible in Basic English

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About BBE
  • Scholarly edition
  • OT: Masoretic Hebrew (not verified)
  • NT: Critical text (not verified)
  • Protestant (66 books)
  • Simplified language
  • 1965
  • Public domain

Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings

1 After these things Jesus let himself be seen again by the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and it came about in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas named Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were all together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, I am going fishing. They said to him, And we will come with you. They went out and got into the boat; but that night they took no fish. 4 Now very early in the morning Jesus was there by the edge of the sea (though the disciples were not conscious that it was Jesus). 5 So Jesus said to them, Children, have you taken any fish? They made answer, No. 6 And he said to them, Let down the net on the right side of the boat and you will get some. So they put it in the water and now they were not able to get it up again because of the great number of fish. 7 So the disciple who was dear to Jesus said to Peter, It is the Lord! Hearing that it was the Lord, Peter put his coat round him (because he was not clothed) and went into the sea. 8 And the other disciples came in the little boat (they were not far from land, only about two hundred cubits off) pulling the net full of fish. 9 When they got to land, they saw a fire of coals there, with fish cooking on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, Get some of the fish which you have now taken. 11 So Peter went to the boat and came back pulling the net to land, full of great fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and though there was such a number the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, Come and take some food. And all the disciples were in fear of putting the question, Who are you? being conscious that it was the Lord. 13 Then Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish in the same way. 14 Now this was the third time that Jesus let himself be seen by the disciples after he had come back from the dead. 15 Then when they had taken food, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, is your love for me greater than the love of these others? He said to him, Yes, Lord; you are certain of my love for you. He said to him, Then give my lambs food. 16 Again, a second time, he said to him, Simon, son of John, have you any love for me? Yes, Lord, he said, you are certain of my love for you. Then take care of my sheep, said Jesus. 17 He said to him a third time, Simon, son of John, am I dear to you? Now Peter was troubled in his heart because he put the question a third time, Am I dear to you? And he said to him, Lord, you have knowledge of all things; you see that you are dear to me. Jesus said to him, Then give my sheep food. 18 Truly I say to you, When you were young, you made yourself ready and went wherever you had a desire to go: but when you are old, you will put out your hands and another will make you ready, and you will be taken where you have no desire to go. 19 Now this he said, pointing out the sort of death by which he would give God glory. And after saying this, he said to him, Come after me. 20 Then Peter, turning round, saw the disciple who was dear to Jesus coming after them — the disciple who was resting on his breast at the last meal, and said, Lord, who is it who will be false to you? 21 Seeing him, Peter said to Jesus, What about this man? 22 Jesus said to him, If it is my desire for him to be here till I come back, what is that to you? come yourself after me. 23 So this saying went about among the brothers that this disciple would not undergo death: Jesus, however, did not say that he would not undergo death, but, If it is my desire for him to be here till I come back, what is that to you? 24 This is the disciple who gives witness about these things and who put them in writing: and we have knowledge that his witness is true. 25 And Jesus did such a number of other things that, if every one was recorded, it is my opinion that even the world itself is not great enough for the books there would be.

People & places in this chapter

From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.

People

  • Jonah

    Father of Simon Peter

    The father of Simon Peter, named Jonah in Matthew 16:17 and John in John 1:42 and 21:15.

    Cited in the guide: Matthew 16:17; John 1:42; John 21:15

Cross references (23)

Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.

  1. 1 John 6:1; Matthew 28:16; John 6:23; Mark 16:7; John 20:19–29
  2. 2 Matthew 4:21–22; John 4:46; John 11:16; John 1:45–2:1; John 20:28
  3. 3 Luke 5:5; Matthew 4:18–20; 2 Thessalonians 3:7–9; Luke 5:10–11; 1 Thessalonians 2:9
  4. 4 John 20:14; Mark 16:12; Luke 24:15–16; Luke 24:31
  5. 5 Philippians 4:19; Philippians 4:11–13; Psalm 37:3; Luke 24:41–43; 1 John 2:13
  6. 6 Luke 5:4–7; Acts 2:41; Acts 4:4; John 2:5; Hebrews 2:6–9
  7. 7 John 13:23; John 21:24; Matthew 14:28–29; John 19:26; John 20:2
  8. 9 1 Kings 19:5–6; John 21:10; John 21:13; John 18:18
  9. 11 Luke 5:6–8; Acts 2:41
  10. 12 Acts 10:41; John 16:19; Luke 9:45; John 21:15; Genesis 32:29–30
  11. 13 John 21:9; Acts 10:41; Luke 24:42–43
  12. 14 John 20:26; John 20:19
  13. 15 1 John 4:19; Isaiah 40:11; Romans 15:1; 2 Corinthians 5:14–15; 1 Peter 1:8
  14. 16 Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2; 1 Peter 2:25; Psalm 100:3; John 10:11–16
  15. 17 John 13:38; John 16:30; Mark 14:72; John 15:10; John 14:15
  16. 18 John 13:36; Acts 12:3–4; Acts 21:11
  17. 19 2 Peter 1:14; John 21:22; Matthew 10:38; Philippians 1:20; Mark 8:33–38
  18. 20 John 21:7; John 20:2; John 21:24; John 13:23–26
  19. 21 Luke 13:23–24; Acts 1:6–7; Matthew 24:3–4
  20. 22 Revelation 2:25; Revelation 3:11; Mark 9:1; Matthew 16:27–28; 1 Corinthians 4:5
  21. 23 Deuteronomy 29:29; Job 33:13; Daniel 4:35; Acts 1:15; Job 28:28
  22. 24 John 15:27; John 19:35; 1 John 1:1–2; 1 John 5:6; 3 John 12
  23. 25 Psalm 40:5; John 20:30–31; Psalm 71:15; Job 26:14; Hebrews 11:32

Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences

What the Fathers said

Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).

How these were chosen

“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).

  1. Commentary 21:16 Augustine of Hippo, Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament (Sermon XCVI)

    Ye have observed, beloved, that in to-day's lesson it was said by the Lord to Peter in a question, "Lovest thou Me?" To whom he answered, "Thou knowest, Lord, that I love thee." This was done a second, and a third time; and at each several reply, the Lord said, "Feed My lambs." To Peter did Christ commend His lambs …

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)

  2. Commentary 21:12 Augustine of Hippo, Tractates on the Gospel of John (Chapter XXI — 12-19)

    With this third manifestation of Himself by the Lord to His disciples after His resurrection, the Gospel of the blessed Apostle John is brought to a close, of which we have already lectured through the earlier part as we were able, on to the place where it is related that an hundred and fifty-three fishes were taken by the disciples …

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 7 (1888)

  3. Commentary 21:15 John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of John (Homily LXXXVIII)

    There are indeed many other things which are able to give us boldness towards God, and to show us bright and approved, but that which most of all brings good will from on high, is tender care for our neighbor. Which therefore Christ requireth of Peter.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 14 (1889)

  4. Quotes verse 21:15–17 Augustine of Hippo, The City of God (Book XIV, Chapters 6–7)

    … from which we gather that, even when the Lord said "diligis," He used an equivalent for "amas." Peter, too, throughout used one word for the one thing, and the third time also replied, "Lord, Thou knowest all things, Thou knowest that I love (amo) Thee." I have judged it right to mention this, because some are of opinion that charity …

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)

  5. Quotes verse 21:16 John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew (Homily XLVI)

    "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." And to Peter again He said not, "If thou lovest me," "do miracles," but "feed my sheep." And whereas He everywhere distinguishes him with James and John above all the rest, for what, I pray thee, did He distinguish …

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)