Jesus Appears at the Sea of Galilee

21 After these things Jesus [a](A)revealed Himself (B)again to the disciples at the (C)Sea of Tiberias, and He revealed Himself in this way: Simon Peter, (D)Thomas who was called [b]Didymus, (E)Nathanael of (F)Cana in Galilee, (G)the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter *said to them, “I am going fishing.” They *said to him, “We are also coming with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and (H)that night they caught nothing.

But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not (I)know that it was Jesus. So Jesus *said to them, “Children, (J)you do not have any fish to eat, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” And He said to them, (K)Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you will find the fish.” So they cast it, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great quantity of fish. (L)Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved *said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about [c]two hundred cubits away, dragging the net full of fish.

So when they got out on the land, they *saw a charcoal (M)fire already [d]made and (N)fish placed on it, and bread. 10 Jesus *said to them, “Bring some of the (O)fish which you have now caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went up and hauled the net to land, full of large fish, 153; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.

Jesus Provides

12 Jesus *said to them, “Come and have (P)breakfast.” None of the disciples ventured to inquire of Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus *came and *took (Q)the bread and *gave it to them, and the (R)fish likewise. 14 This was now the (S)third time that Jesus revealed Himself to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.

The Love Question

15 Now when they had (T)finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you [e](U)love Me more than these?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [f]love You.” He *said to him, “Tend (V)My lambs.” 16 He *said to him again, a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you [g]love Me?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [h]love You.” He *said to him, (W)Shepherd My sheep.” 17 He *said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you [i]love Me?” Peter was [j]hurt because He said to him (X)the third time, “Do you [k]love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, (Y)You know all things; You know that I [l]love You.” Jesus *said to him, (Z)Tend My sheep.

Our Times Are in His Hand

18 Truly, truly I tell you, when you were younger, you used to put on your belt and walk wherever you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will put your belt on you, and bring you where you do not want to go.” 19 Now He said this, (AA)indicating by (AB)what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had said this, He *said to him, (AC)Follow Me!”

20 Peter turned around and *saw the (AD)disciple whom Jesus loved following them—the one who also had (AE)leaned back on His chest at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who is betraying You?” 21 So Peter, upon seeing him, *said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” 22 Jesus *said to him, “If I want him to remain (AF)until I come, what is that to you? You (AG)follow Me!” 23 Therefore this [m]account went out among (AH)the brothers, that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain (AI)until I come, what is that to you?”

24 This is the disciple who (AJ)is testifying about these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

25 But there are also (AK)many other things which Jesus did, which, if they were written in detail, I expect that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.

Footnotes

  1. John 21:1 Or made Himself visible
  2. John 21:2 I.e., the Twin
  3. John 21:8 About 100 yd. or 90 m; a cubit is about 18 in. or 45 cm
  4. John 21:9 Lit laid
  5. John 21:15 Gr agapao
  6. John 21:15 Gr phileo
  7. John 21:16 Gr agapao
  8. John 21:16 Gr phileo
  9. John 21:17 Gr phileo
  10. John 21:17 Or distressed
  11. John 21:17 Gr phileo
  12. John 21:17 Gr phileo
  13. John 21:23 Lit word

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: 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. “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)

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.(H)

He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

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)

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. 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] 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.

Footnotes

  1. John 21:1 Greek Tiberias
  2. John 21:2 Thomas (Aramaic) and Didymus (Greek) both mean twin.
  3. John 21:8 Or about 90 meters