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John 21
Holman Christian Standard Bible
John 21
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Jesus’ Third Appearance to the Disciples
21 After this, Jesus revealed(A) Himself again to His disciples by the Sea of Tiberias.[a](B) He revealed Himself in this way:
2 Simon Peter,(C) Thomas(D) (called “Twin”), Nathanael(E) from Cana of Galilee,(F) Zebedee’s(G) 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.(H)
4 When daybreak came, Jesus stood on the shore. However, the disciples did not know it was Jesus.(I)
5 “Men,”[b] 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,[c] 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!”(J)
When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tied his outer garment around him[d] (for he was stripped) and plunged into the sea. 8 But since they were not far from land (about 100 yards[e](K) away), the other disciples came in the boat,(L) 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.(M)
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[f](N) Jesus appeared[g](O) 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,[h] do you love[i] Me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.”
“Feed(P) My lambs,”(Q) He told him.
16 A second time He asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love(R) Me?”(S)
“Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.”
“Shepherd(T) My sheep,”(U) He told him.
17 He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love(V) Me?”
Peter was grieved(W) that He asked him the third time, “Do you love Me?” He said, “Lord, You know everything!(X) You know that I love You.”
“Feed(Y) My sheep,” Jesus said. 18 “I assure you:(Z) 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(AA) he would glorify God.[j](AB) After saying this, He told him, “Follow Me!”(AC)
Correcting a False Report
20 So Peter turned around and saw the disciple Jesus loved(AD) 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?”(AE) 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord—what about him?”
22 “If I want him to remain until I come,”(AF) Jesus answered, “what is that to you? As for you, follow Me.”
23 So this report[k] spread to the brothers[l](AG) that this disciple would not die.(AH) 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[m] that would be written.(AI)
Footnotes
- John 21:1 The Sea of Galilee; Sea of Tiberias is used only in John; Jn 6:1,23
- John 21:5 Lit Children
- John 21:6 Lit they cast
- John 21:7 Lit he girded his garment
- John 21:8 Lit about 200 cubits
- John 21:14 The other two are in Jn 20:19-29.
- John 21:14 Lit was revealed (v. 1)
- John 21:15 Other mss read Simon, son of Jonah; Mt 16:17; Jn 1:42
- John 21:15 Two synonyms are translated love in this conversation: agapao, the first 2 times by Jesus (vv. 15-16); and phileo, the last time by Jesus (v. 17) and all 3 times by Peter (vv. 15-17). Peter’s threefold confession of love for Jesus corresponds to his earlier threefold denial of Jesus; Jn 18:15-18,25-27.
- 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 21:25 Lit scroll
John 21
New International Version
John 21
New International Version
Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish
21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples,(A) by the Sea of Galilee.[a](B) It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas(C) (also known as Didymus[b]), Nathanael(D) from Cana in Galilee,(E) the sons of Zebedee,(F) and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.(G)
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.(H)
5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.(I)
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved(J) said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.[c] 9 When they landed, they saw a fire(K) of burning coals there with fish on it,(L) and some bread.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.(M) 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples(N) after he was raised from the dead.
Jesus Reinstates Peter
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”(O)
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”(P)
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”(Q)
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?”(R) He said, “Lord, you know all things;(S) you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.(T) 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(U) by which Peter would glorify God.(V) Then he said to him, “Follow me!”(W)
20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved(X) 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?”)(Y) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return,(Z) what is that to you? You must follow me.”(AA) 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers(AB) 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?”
24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things(AC) and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.(AD)
25 Jesus did many other things as well.(AE) If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
John 21
New King James Version
John 21
New King James Version
Breakfast by the Sea
21 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the (A)Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 2 Simon Peter, (B)Thomas called the Twin, (C)Nathanael of (D)Cana in Galilee, (E)the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”
They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and [a]immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples (F)did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then (G)Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”
They answered Him, “No.”
6 And He said to them, (H)“Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
7 Therefore (I)that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. 9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”
11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, (J)“Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.
14 This is now (K)the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.
Jesus Restores Peter
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of [b]Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [c]love You.”
He said to him, (L)“Feed My lambs.”
16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of [d]Jonah, do you love Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [e]love You.”
(M)He said to him, “Tend My (N)sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of [f]Jonah, do you [g]love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, (O)You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18 (P)Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying (Q)by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, (R)“Follow Me.”
The Beloved Disciple and His Book
20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple (S)whom Jesus loved following, (T)who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”
22 Jesus said to him, “If I [h]will that he remain (U)till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”
23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”
24 This is the disciple who (V)testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.
25 (W)And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, (X)I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.
Footnotes
- John 21:3 NU omits immediately
- John 21:15 NU John
- John 21:15 have affection for
- John 21:16 NU John
- John 21:16 have affection for
- John 21:17 NU John
- John 21:17 have affection for
- John 21:22 desire
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.