previous next

John 21

Jesus' Third Appearance to the Disciples

1 After this, Jesus revealed Himself again to His disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed Himself in this way:

2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called "Twin"), Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, Zebedee's sons, and two others of His disciples were together.

3 "I'm going fishing," Simon Peter said to them.
"We're coming with you," they told him. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4 When daybreak came, Jesus stood on the shore. However, the disciples did not know it was Jesus.

5 "Men," Jesus called to them, "you don't have any fish, do you?"
"No," they answered.
6 "Cast the net on the right side of the boat," He told them, "and you'll find some." So they did, and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish.

7 Therefore the disciple, the one Jesus loved, said to Peter, "It is the Lord!"
When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tied his outer garment around him (for he was stripped) and plunged into the sea.
8 But since they were not far from land (about 100 yards away), the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish.

9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread.
10 "Bring some of the fish you've just caught," Jesus told them.

11 So Simon Peter got up and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish-153 of them. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
12 "Come and have breakfast," Jesus told them. None of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are You?" because they knew it was the Lord.

13 Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish.

14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples after He was raised from the dead.

Jesus' Threefold Restoration of Peter

15 When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said to Him, "You know that I love You."
"Feed My lambs," He told him.

16 A second time He asked him, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?"
"Yes, Lord," he said to Him, "You know that I love You."
"Shepherd My sheep," He told him.

17 He asked him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?"
Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, "Do you love Me?" He said, "Lord, You know everything! You know that I love You."
"Feed My sheep," Jesus said.
18 "I assure you: When you were young, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don't want to go."

19 He said this to signify by what kind of death he would glorify God. After saying this, He told him, "Follow Me!"

Correcting a False Report

20 So Peter turned around and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them. [That disciple] was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and asked, "Lord, who is the one that's going to betray You?"

21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord-what about him?"

22 "If I want him to remain until I come," Jesus answered, "what is that to you? As for you, follow Me."

23 So this report spread to the brothers that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not tell him that he would not die, but, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?"

Epilogue

24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if they were written one by one, I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written.

John 21

Jesus’ Appearance to the Disciples in Galilee

1 After thist Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias.s Now this is how he did so.t2 Simon Peter, Thomast (called Didymus),s Nathanaelt (who was from Canas in Galilee), the sonst of Zebedee,s and two other discipless of his were together.

3 Simon Peter told them, “I am going fishing.” “We will go with you,” they replied.t They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 When it was already very early morning, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.5 So Jesus said to them, “Children, you don’t have any fish,t do you?”t They replied,t “No.”

6 He told them, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.”t So they threw the net,t and were not able to pull it in because of the large number of fish.
7 Then the disciple whomt Jesus loveds said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” So Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, tucked in his outer garment (for he had nothing on underneath it),ts and plungedt into the sea.

8 Meanwhile the other disciples came with the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from land, only about a hundred yards.t
9 When they got out on the beach,t they saw a charcoal fire readyt with a fish placed on it, and bread.10 Jesus said,t “Bring some of the fish you have just now caught.”11 So Simon Peter went aboard and pulled the net to shore. It wast full of large fish, one hundred fifty-three,s but although there were so many, the net was not torn.12 “Come, have breakfast,” Jesus said.t But none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord.13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.

14 This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Peter’s Restoration

15 Then when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John,s do you love me more than these do?”t He replied,t “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.”t Jesust told him, “Feed my lambs.”16 Jesust saidt a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He replied,t “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesust told him, “Shepherd my sheep.”17 Jesust saidt a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressedt that Jesust askedt him a third time, “Do you love me?” and said,t “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesusst replied,t “Feed my sheep.18 I tell you the solemn truth,t when you were young, you tied your clothes around yout and went wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will tie you upt and bring you where you do not want to go.”

19 (Now Jesust said this to indicate clearly by what kind of death Petert was going to glorify God.)s After he said this, Jesus told Peter,t “Follow me.”

Peter and the Disciple Jesus Loved

20 Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them.t (This was the disciplet who had leaned back against Jesus’t chest at the meal and asked,t “Lord, who is the one who is going to betray you?”)s21 So when Peter saw him,t he asked Jesus, “Lord, what about him?”22 Jesus replied,t “If I want him to livet until I come back,t what concern is that of yours? You follow me!”

23 So the saying circulatedt among the brothers and sisterst that this disciple was not going to die. But Jesus did not say to him that he was not going to die, but rather, “If I want him to livet until I come back,t what concern is that of yours?”

A Final Note

24 This is the disciple who testifies about these things and has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

25 There are many other things that Jesus did. If every one of them were written down,t I suppose the whole worldt would not have room for the books that would be written.ss