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John 21:18-23
Holman Christian Standard Bible
John 21:18-23
Holman Christian Standard Bible
18 “I assure you:(A) 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(B) he would glorify God.[a](C) After saying this, He told him, “Follow Me!”(D)
Correcting a False Report
20 So Peter turned around and saw the disciple Jesus loved(E) 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?”(F) 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord—what about him?”
22 “If I want him to remain until I come,”(G) Jesus answered, “what is that to you? As for you, follow Me.”
23 So this report[b] spread to the brothers[c](H) that this disciple would not die.(I) 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?”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- John 21:19 Jesus predicts that Peter would be martyred. Church tradition says that Peter was crucified upside down.
- John 21:23 Lit this word
- John 21:23 The word brothers refers to the late first century Christian community.
John 21:18-23
New International Version
John 21:18-23
New International Version
18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death(A) by which Peter would glorify God.(B) Then he said to him, “Follow me!”(C)
20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved(D) was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”)(E) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return,(F) what is that to you? You must follow me.”(G) 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers(H) that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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