1 After these things Jesus Himself again appeared to the disciples on the Sea of Tiberias, and He revealed Himself thus: 2 Simon Peter, and Thomas who is called Didymus, and Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, and the [sons] of Zebedee, and two of His other disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter says to them, “I go away to fish”; they say to him, “We go—we also—with you”; they went forth and immediately entered into the boat, and on that night they caught nothing. 4 And morning having now come, Jesus stood at the shore, yet indeed the disciples did not know that it is Jesus; 5 Jesus, therefore, says to them, “Boys, do you have any meat?” 6 They answered Him, “No”; and He said to them, “Cast the net at the right side of the boat, and you will find [some]”; they cast, therefore, and no longer were they able to draw it, from the multitude of the fishes. 7 That disciple, therefore, whom Jesus was loving says to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Simon Peter, therefore, having heard that it is the LORD, girded on the outer coat (for he was naked), and cast himself into the sea; 8 and the other disciples came by the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away, dragging the net of the fishes; 9 when, therefore, they came to the land, they behold a fire of coals lying [there], and a fish lying on it, and bread. 10 Jesus says to them, “Bring from the fishes that you caught now”; 11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net up on the land, full of great fishes—one hundred fifty-three; and though they were so many, the net was not split. 12 Jesus says to them, “Come, dine”; and none of the disciples were venturing to inquire of Him, “Who are You?” Knowing that it is the LORD; 13 Jesus, therefore, comes and takes the bread and gives [it] to them, and the fish in like manner; 14 this [is] now a third time Jesus was revealed to His disciples, having been raised from the dead. 15 When, therefore, they dined, Jesus says to Simon Peter, “Simon, [son] of Jonas, do you love Me more than these?” He says to Him, “Yes, Lord; You have known that I cherish You”; He says to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He says to him again, a second time, “Simon, [son] of Jonas, do you love Me?” He says to Him, “Yes, Lord; You have known that I cherish You”; He says to him, “Tend My sheep.” 17 He says to him the third time, “Simon, [son] of Jonas, do you cherish Me?” Peter was grieved that He said to him the third time, “Do you cherish Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You have known all things; You know that I cherish You.” Jesus says to him, “Feed My sheep; 18 truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you were girding yourself and were walking to where you willed, but when you may be old, you will stretch forth your hands, and another will gird you, and will carry [you] to where you do not will”; 19 and this He said, signifying by what death he will glorify God; and having said this, He says to him, “Follow Me.” 20 And having turned, Peter sees the disciple whom Jesus was loving following (who also reclined in the dinner on His breast and said, “Lord, who is he who is delivering You up?”) 21 Having seen this one, Peter says to Jesus, “Lord, and what of this one?” 22 Jesus says to him, “If I will him to remain until I come, what [is that] to you? Follow Me.” 23 This word, therefore, went forth to the brothers that this disciple does not die, yet Jesus did not say to him that he does not die, but, “If I will him to remain until I come, what [is that] to you?” 24 This is the disciple who is testifying concerning these things, and he wrote these things, and we have known that his testimony is true. 25 And there are also many other things—as many as Jesus did—which, if they may be written one by one, I think the world itself does not even have place for the scrolls written. Amen.
John · Literal Standard Version
John 21 Literal Standard Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
Places
Sea of Galilee
This harp-shaped lake (~13 miles long) lies in the Jordan Rift Valley. Cool air dropping onto the warm water spawns sudden storms — the setting of several Gospel miracles.
Cited in the guide: Matthew 4:18; Mark 4:39; John 21:1
Cross references (23)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 John 6:1; Matthew 28:16; John 6:23; Mark 16:7; John 20:19–29
- 2 Matthew 4:21–22; John 4:46; John 11:16; John 1:45–2:1; John 20:28
- 3 Luke 5:5; Matthew 4:18–20; 2 Thessalonians 3:7–9; Luke 5:10–11; 1 Thessalonians 2:9
- 4 John 20:14; Mark 16:12; Luke 24:15–16; Luke 24:31
- 5 Philippians 4:19; Philippians 4:11–13; Psalm 37:3; Luke 24:41–43; 1 John 2:13
- 6 Luke 5:4–7; Acts 2:41; Acts 4:4; John 2:5; Hebrews 2:6–9
- 7 John 13:23; John 21:24; Matthew 14:28–29; John 19:26; John 20:2
- 9 1 Kings 19:5–6; John 21:10; John 21:13; John 18:18
- 11 Luke 5:6–8; Acts 2:41
- 12 Acts 10:41; John 16:19; Luke 9:45; John 21:15; Genesis 32:29–30
- 13 John 21:9; Acts 10:41; Luke 24:42–43
- 14 John 20:26; John 20:19
- 15 1 John 4:19; Isaiah 40:11; Romans 15:1; 2 Corinthians 5:14–15; 1 Peter 1:8
- 16 Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2; 1 Peter 2:25; Psalm 100:3; John 10:11–16
- 17 John 13:38; John 16:30; Mark 14:72; John 15:10; John 14:15
- 18 John 13:36; Acts 12:3–4; Acts 21:11
- 19 2 Peter 1:14; John 21:22; Matthew 10:38; Philippians 1:20; Mark 8:33–38
- 20 John 21:7; John 20:2; John 21:24; John 13:23–26
- 21 Luke 13:23–24; Acts 1:6–7; Matthew 24:3–4
- 22 Revelation 2:25; Revelation 3:11; Mark 9:1; Matthew 16:27–28; 1 Corinthians 4:5
- 23 Deuteronomy 29:29; Job 33:13; Daniel 4:35; Acts 1:15; Job 28:28
- 24 John 15:27; John 19:35; 1 John 1:1–2; 1 John 5:6; 3 John 12
- 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).
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)
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)
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)
… 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)
"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)