1.
After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
After these things. A note of time frequent in John. See John 3:22 ; John 5:1 , John 5:14 ; John 6:1 ; John 7:1 ; John 13:7 ; John 19:38 .
After . Greek. meta. App-104 .
Jesus. App-98 .
shewed = manifested. Greek. phaneroo. App-106 . v; not merely presented Himself, but revealed His power and glory. See John 2:11 . Not the same word as John 14:21 , John 14:22 , which is empitanizo. App-106 .
at = upon. Greek. epi. App-104 .
on this wise = thus.
2.
There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
of = from. Greek. apo. App-104 .
other . Greek allos. App-124 .
of = out of. Greek. ek. App-104 .
3.
Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
unto = to.
I go a fishing = I go forth to fish.
with. Greek. sun. App-104 .
into . Greek eis. App-104 .
a = the; probably that of Matthew 4:21 , belonging to Zebedee and his sons.
immediately . All the texts omit.
that night = in (Greek. en. App-104 .) that night. caught. Greek. piazo. Used in the Gospels by John only, and always, except here and John 21:10 , of "taking" the Lord (John 7:30 , John 7:32 , John 7:44 ; John 8:20 ; John 10:39 ; John 11:57 ).
nothing. Greek. oudeis, compound of ou. App-105 .
4.
But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
now = already.
on . Greek. eis. App-104 .
knew . Greek. oida. App-132 .
not . Greek. ou. App-105 .
5.
Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
Then = Therefore.
Children . Greek. paidion. App-108 .
meat. Greek. prosphagion. Something to eat with (your bread), a relish. Occurs only here.
No . Greek. ou. App-105 .
6.
And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
Cast . Greek. ballo, as in John 20:25 , John 20:27 .
net. A bag or purse net. Greek. diktuon, as in Matthew 4:20 . Mark 1:18 . Luke 5:2 . For other words for "net", see Matthew 4:18 ; Matthew 13:47 .
now they were not = no longer (Greek. ouketi) were they.
draw . Greek. helkuo. See on John 12:32 .
for = from. Greek. apo, App-104 . This was the eighth sign. See App-176 .
7.
Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
loved. Greek. agapao. App-135 .
the Lord. App-98 .
Now when = Therefore.
heard = having heard.
girt . Greek. diazonnumi. Only here and John 13:4 , John 13:5 .
his fisher's coat = the upper garment. Greek. ependutes. Only here in N.T. Used in the Septuagint for the Hebrew meil, robe, in 1 Samuel 18:4 . 2 Samuel 13:18 .
naked. Greek gumnos. This means he had only his tunic or undergarment on. Compare Mark 14:51 .Acts 19:16 .
8.
And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
a little ship = the boat. Greek. ploiarion, dim. of ploion, John 21:3 ; John 21:6 . Elsewhere in John 6:22 , John 6:23 "boat", Mark 3:9 ; Mark 4:36 .
from . Greek. apo. App-104 .
land = the land. Greek. ge. App-129 .
two , &c. = about (Greek. apo. App-104 .) two, &c.: i.e. one hundred yards. See App-51 .
dragging . Greek suro. Only here, Acts 8:3 ; Acts 14:19 ; Acts 17:6 . Revelation 12:4 . Not the same word as in John 21:6 .
the net with fishes = the net of fishes.
9.
As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
were come = went forth,
to = unto. Greek. eis. App-104 .
saw = see. Greek. blepo. App-133 .
fire of coals . Greek. anthrakia. Only here and John 18:18 .
fish . Greek. opsarion, dim. of opson, cooked meat, eaten as a relish. in John 6:9 , John 6:11 , the only other passage where it occurs, it is in the plural as in John 21:10 below. Here it probably means a little fish,
bread = a loaf. One little fish and one loaf to feed eight persons. A beautiful variant of, and supplement to, the widow's handful of meal and cruse of oil (1 Kings 17 ). It was a type of the food He would supply them with, in the strength of which they would go "many days".
10.
Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
the fish . Here the word is opsarion in the plural. But they were great fishes (John 21:11 ). So it must be used in a general sense.
11.
Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, and hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
went up = went back.
to . Greek. epi. App-104 ., but all the texts read eis.
12.
Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
dine . Greek. aristao. Only here, John 21:15 , and Luke 11:37 . The ariston was the morning meal, as contrasted with the afternoon meal, which was called deipnon, translated "supper". Compare Matthew 22:4 .Luke 11:38 ; Luke 11:14 , Luke 11:12 .
none = no one. Greek. oudeis.
durst = ventured to. Contrast their freedom in questioning Him before. It marks the change in their relationship wrought by the resurrection,
ask = inquire. Only here and Matthew 2:8 ; Matthew 10:11 .
13.
Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
then . All the texts omit.
bread = the loaf.
fish = the fish of John 21:9 .
14.
This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
now = already.
His = the.
risen . Greek. egeiro. App-178 .
from the dead. Greek. ek nekron. See App-139 .
15.
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
So = Therefore.
Simon . Peter was always addressed by the Lord as Simon except in Luke 22:34 . See App-147 .
more than these : i.e. than these other disciples do. Referring to his words in Matthew 26:33 , Matthew 26:35 .
love . Greek phileo. App-135 . Note the different words used in these verses. The Lord uses agapao twice and phileo once, Peter always phileo.
Feed : i.e. provide pasture for. Greek. bosko. Save in this passage, always of swine.
lambs . Greek. arnion, a diminutive. Only here and in the Revelation, where it occurs twenty-nine times, always of the Lord, except John 13:11 . The other word for "lamb", amnos, only in John 1:29 , John 1:36 . Acts 8:32 . 1 Peter 1:19 .
16.
He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
the = a.
Feed = Shepherd. Greek poimaino. Occurs eleven times, translated "rule "in Matthew 2:6 . Revelation 2:27 ; Revelation 12:5 ; Revelation 19:15 . Compare poimen, John 10:2 , John 10:11 , John 10:12 , John 10:14 , John 10:16 (Shepherd); Ephesians 4:11 (pastors).
sheep . Greek probaton.
17.
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
grieved . Greek. lupeo . Elsewhere in John 16:20 . Compare 1 Peter 1:6 . The noun lupe occurs in John 16:6 , John 16:20 , John 16:21 , John 16:22 . Compare 1 Peter 2:19 .
knowest. Greek ginosko. App-132 .
18.
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
Verily, verily . Twenty-fifth and last occurance of this double Amen ( App-10 ). See on John 1:51 and p. 1511.
young . Greek. neoteros, younger. The positive neos applied to any one up to thirty. This and John 20:4 gave rise to the tradition that Peter was a middle-aged man. girdedst. Greek. zonnumi. Only here.
wouldest . Greek. thelo. App-102 .
carry = lead. Greek. phero. Compare Mark 9:17 . Luke 15:23 .Acts 14:13 .
19.
This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
what = what kind of.
glorify. Greek. doxazo. See p. 1511.
God . App-98 .
when He had = having.
Follow . Greek. akoloutheo. Used of soldiers, servants, and pupils. First occurance in John 1:37 .
20.
Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
Then . All the texts omit.
turning about = having turned round.
also leaned = leaned also.
on . Greek. epi. App-104 .
at . Greek. en. App-104 .
which = who. betrayeth. See on John 19:30 , "gave up".
21.
Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
seeing . Greek. eidon. App-133 .
what , &c.: literally ' this one, what?
22.
Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
If. App-118 .
tarry. Greek meno, translated abide, remain, &c. See book comments for John.
what, &c. Peter's curiosity rebuked. Compare Matthew 17:4 .
to = with reference to. Greek. pros. App-104 .
23.
Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
saying . Greek. logos. See on Mark 9:32 .
among = unto. Greek eis. App-104 .
that . Greek. ekeinos.
should not die = is not dying: i.e. is not going to die.
24.
This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
testifieth = beareth witness. Greek. martureo. See See book comments for John, note 4.
of = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 .
testimony . Greek. marturia. Compare John 19:35 , and see book comments for John.
true. Greek alethes. App-175 .
25.
And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
also many , &c. = many other things also. See John 20:30 .
every one = one by one. Greek. kath' ( App-104 ) en.
I suppose = I think. Greek. oimai, contr. for oiomai, which occurs in Philippians 1:1 , Philippians 1:16 . James 1:7 .
even . . . not. Greek. oude, compound of ou . App-105 .
world . Greek. kosmos. App-129 .
contain . Greek. choreo. Elsewhere in John: John 2:6 ; John 8:37 (hath no place). Compare Matthew 19:12 .
the books, &c. = the written books. Figure of speech Hyperbole. App-6 . Amen. All the texts omit. In that case, only the double "verily" found in John. This chapter is a supplement, of the highest value, to the Gospel formally concluded in John 20:31 .
The use of the first person singular in John 21:25 , contrasted with the Evangelist's modest self-effacement elsewhere, has led some to doubt the Johannine authorship of this chapter. But the evidence of the MSS. and Versions, and the attestation clause at John 21:24 is so closely allied to that in John 19:35 as to leave little room for doubt. Note further, the use of many characteristic words (see p. 1511), the expression noted in John 21:1 , the double "verily" (John 21:18 ), and, above all, the eight signs with their wonderful structure and correspondence (see App-176 ).