John · Literal Standard Version
John 21 Literal Standard Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 After these things Jesus Himself again appeared to the disciples on the Sea of Tiberias, and He revealed Himself thus:
1 After these things, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself this way.
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.
2 Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his 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.
3 Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing.” They told him, “We are also coming with you.” They immediately went out and entered into the boat. 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;
4 But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus.
5 Jesus, therefore, says to them, “Boys, do you have any meat?”
5 Jesus therefore said to them, “Children, have you anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.”
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.
6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” They cast it therefore, and now they weren’t able to draw it in for the multitude of fish.
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;
7 That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his coat around himself (for he was naked), and threw 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;
8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away), dragging the net full of fish.
9 when, therefore, they came to the land, they behold a fire of coals lying [there], and a fish lying on it, and bread.
9 So when they got out on the land, they saw a fire of coals there, with fish and bread laid on it.
10 Jesus says to them, “Bring from the fishes that you caught now”;
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”
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.
11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of one hundred fifty-three great fish. Even though there were so many, the net wasn’t torn.
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;
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast!” None of the disciples dared inquire of him, “Who are you?” knowing that it was the Lord.
13 Jesus, therefore, comes and takes the bread and gives [it] to them, and the fish in like manner;
13 Then Jesus came and took the bread, gave it to them, and the fish likewise.
14 this [is] now a third time Jesus was revealed to His disciples, having been raised from the dead.
14 This is now the third time that Jesus was revealed to his disciples after he had risen 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.”
15 So when they had eaten their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.” He said 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.”
16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.” He said 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;
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you have affection for me?” Peter was grieved because he asked him the third time, “Do you have affection for me?” He said to him, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I have affection for you.” Jesus said 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”;
18 Most certainly I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted to. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you don’t want to go.”
19 and this He said, signifying by what death he will glorify God; and having said this, He says to him, “Follow Me.”
19 Now he said this, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. When he had said this, he said 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?”)
20 Then Peter, turning around, saw a disciple following. This was the disciple whom Jesus loved, the one who had also leaned on Jesus’ chest at the supper and asked, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”
21 Having seen this one, Peter says to Jesus, “Lord, and what of this one?”
21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?”
22 Jesus says to him, “If I will him to remain until I come, what [is that] to you? Follow Me.”
22 Jesus said to him, “If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you? 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?”
23 This saying therefore went out among the brothers that this disciple wouldn’t die. Yet Jesus didn’t say to him that he wouldn’t die, but, “If I desire that he stay 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.
24 This is the disciple who testifies about these things, and wrote these things. We know that his witness 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.
25 There are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they would all be written, I suppose that even the world itself wouldn’t have room for the books that would be written.
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)