John 21

Jesus’ Appearance to the Disciples in Galilee

21:1 After this¹ Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias.² Now this is how he did so.³ 21:2 Simon Peter, Thomas⁴ (called Didymus),⁵ Nathanael⁶ (who was from Cana⁷ in Galilee), the sons⁸ of Zebedee,⁹ and two other disciples¹⁰ of his were together. 21:3 Simon Peter told them, “I am going fishing.” “We will go with you,” they replied.¹¹ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

21:4 When it was already very early morning, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 21:5 So Jesus said to them, “Children, you don’t have any fish,¹² do you?”¹³ They replied,¹⁴ “No.” 21:6 He told them, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.”¹⁵ So they threw the net,¹⁶ and were not able to pull it in because of the large number of fish.

21:7 Then the disciple whom¹⁷ Jesus loved¹⁸ 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),¹⁹ and plunged²⁰ into the sea. 21:8 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.²¹

21:9 When they got out on the beach,²² they saw a charcoal fire ready²³ with a fish placed on it, and bread. 21:10 Jesus said,²⁴ “Bring some of the fish you have just now caught.” 21:11 So Simon Peter went aboard and pulled the net to shore. It was²⁵ full of large fish, one hundred fifty-three,²⁶ but although there were so many, the net was not torn. 21:12 “Come, have breakfast,” Jesus said.²⁷ But none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 21:13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 21:14 This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Peter’s Restoration

21:15 Then when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John,²⁸ do you love me more than these do?”²⁹ He replied,³⁰ “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.”³¹ Jesus³² told him, “Feed my lambs.” 21:16 Jesus³³ said³⁴ a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He replied,³⁵ “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus³⁶ told him, “Shepherd my sheep.” 21:17 Jesus³⁷ said³⁸ a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed³⁹ that Jesus⁴⁰ asked⁴¹ him a third time, “Do you love me?” and said,⁴² “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus⁴³ replied,⁴⁴ “Feed my sheep. 21:18 I tell you the solemn truth,⁴⁵ when you were young, you tied your clothes around you⁴⁶ and went wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will tie you up⁴⁷ and bring you where you do not want to go.” 21:19 (Now Jesus⁴⁸ said this to indicate clearly by what kind of death Peter⁴⁹ was going to glorify God.)⁵⁰ After he said this, Jesus told Peter,⁵¹ “Follow me.”

Peter and the Disciple Jesus Loved

21:20 Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them.⁵² (This was the disciple⁵³ who had leaned back against Jesus’⁵⁴ chest at the meal and asked,⁵⁵ “Lord, who is the one who is going to betray you?”)⁵⁶ 21:21 So when Peter saw him,⁵⁷ he asked Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” 21:22 Jesus replied,⁵⁸ “If I want him to live⁵⁹ until I come back,⁶⁰ what concern is that of yours? You follow me!” 21:23 So the saying circulated⁶¹ among the brothers and sisters⁶² 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 live⁶³ until I come back,⁶⁴ what concern is that of yours?”

A Final Note

21:24 This is the disciple who testifies about these things and has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. 21:25 There are many other things that Jesus did. If every one of them were written down,⁶⁵ I suppose the whole world⁶⁶ would not have room for the books that would be written.⁶⁷