John 21

Chapter 21

Epilogue: Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples

1 Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee.t This is how it happened.

2 Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin),t Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.

3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.”
“We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.
4 At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was.

5 He called out, “Fellows,t have you caught any fish?”
“No,” they replied.

6 Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.
7 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore.8 The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yardst from shore.

9 When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.
10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said.

11 So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.
12 “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish.

14 This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.

15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?t”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.

16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.

17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.
18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and otherst will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.”

19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”
20 Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?”

21 Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”
22 Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.”

23 So the rumor spread among the community of believerst that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

24 This disciple is the one who testifies to these events and has recorded them here. And we know that his account of these things is accurate.

25 Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not 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