John 21

1 Christ revealeth himself again to some Disciples,where thy are fishing. 6 Blesseth them with a very great drought of fish,whereby they know him. 7 Peter casteth himself into the Sea to come unto him,and the other Disciples follow him with the ship. 9 Christ dineth with them, 15 and asketh Peter thrice whether he loved him,and commands him to feed his sheep. 18 Foretelleth him by what death he should glorifie God. 20 Reproves his question concerning John. 24 John concludes his Evangelical history.

1. After this Jesus revealed himself again to the Disciples at the Sea of Tiberias : [Of this Sea or Lake see the annot. Mat.4.18. where it is called the Sea of Galilee,whither Christ had ordered his Disciples to depart after his death,with promise that there they should see him alive again,Mat.28.10.] and he revealed himself thus.

2. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Dydimus [Namely,in the Greek tongue. See John 11:15.] and Nathaniel.[A famous Disciple of Christ,one of the first,John 1:46.etc.] who was of Cana in Galilee,and the (sons) of Zebedee,[namely,James and John,Matthew 10:2.] and two other of his Disciples.[Gr. out of.]

3. Simon Peter said unto them,I go fishing. They said unto him,we also go with thee. They went forth and slept immediately [Gr .ascended] into a ship,and in that night they caught nothing.

4. And when it was now become morning,Jesus stood on the shore,but the Disciples knew not that it was Jesus.[It seemeth that their eyes were held here for a time,as Luke 24:16. For they were not far from the shore v.8.]

5. Then Jesus said unto them,children,have ye not any meat? [Whereby is understood all that is eaten with bread,and especially fish :] They answered him,No.

6. And he said unto them : cast the net on the right side of the ship, [That is,on the....-board of the ship. For that is at the right hand of him that stands at the helm.]and ye shall finde. They cast it therefore,and could no more draw the same,by reason of the maltitude of fishes.

7. The Disciple therefore whom Jesus loved,[That is,John. See v.20,24.] said unto Peter,is it the Lord. Then Simon Peter hearing that it was the Lord,girded abut his upper garment [Gr. Ependytes,which signifies a garment which men put on upon other. Some think that this was a linnen drawer,which he girded about to be the better able to swim,or to go thorow the water,seeing that he was not far from the land] (for he was neked) [namely,before he drew the same on : not wholly indeed,seeing without doubt he had somewhat on to cover his shame] and cast himself into the Sea.

8. And the other Disciples came with the little ship,for they were not far from land,but about two hundred ....,[Gr. cubits. i.e. about sixty paces,each pace of five foot. See Mat.6.27.]dragging the net with the fishes. [namely, towards the Land,because it was too heavy to draw up into the ship.]

9. Therefore when they were gone to Land they saw a coal fire ly,and fish lying thereon. [Gr. opsarion,what this word properly signifies,See John 6:9.] and bread.

10. Jesus said unto them,bring of the fishes which ye have now caught.

11. Simon Peter went up,and drew the net on the Land,full of great fishes (unto)an hundred fifty and three. and although they were so many,the net did not rend : [Which came to pass by the divine power of Christ,to increase the miracle.]

12. Jesus said unto them,come hither,take your dinner.And no man of the Disciples durst ask him,who art thou?Namely,for shame,lest they should seem to doubt any more that he was truly risen] knowing that it was the Lord.

13. Then Jesus came and took bread,and gave it them,and the fish likewise.

14. this was now the third time ,that Jesus was manifested to his Disciples,[Namely or many Disciples being gathered together,for he had oftner manifested himself unto some of them in particular. See before John 20:19,26.] after that he was risen from the dead.

15. Then when they had dined,Jesus said unto Simon Peter,Simon (son) of Jona, [See Mat.16.17.] lovest thou me more [namely,as before thou thoughtest and boastedst,Mat.26.33. Luke 23:33.and yet hast denied me thrice] then these? [namely,love me] He said unto him,yea Lord,thou knowest that I love thee,[that is,notwithstanding my former fall for which I am heartily sorrowfull,and which I trust thou hast forgiven me,thou knowest that though out of weakness the confession ceased in my mouth,yet notwithstanding my love towards thee ceased not in my heart] He said unto him,feed my Lambes.[both words lambes and sheep signifie one thing,namely,the members of Christs church, as may be seen by comparing. Mat.10.16. Luke 10:3.However some think that by the lambes tender Christians,and by sheep those that are strongest in faith should be understood,Isa.40.11.]

16. He said again unto him for the second time,Simon (son) of Jona,lovest thou me? He said unto him yea Lord,thou knowest that I love thee.He said unto him keep my sheep.

17. He said unto him the third time,[For asmuch as Peter by denying Christ thrice had made himself unworthy of the Apostleship,therefore he here again draws this confession from him thrice over,thereby to confirm him again in his office ; and not thereby to make him an head of the Church,and above all the other Apostles] Simon (son) of Jona,lovest thou me? Peter was grieved [namely,because he thought by his thrice asking that Christ seemed to doubt of his love] 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 said unto him, feed my sheep. [the same that is here commanded Peter,that is also charged upon all Ministers of the Holy Gospel,Acts 10:28. 1 Pet.5.2. Howsoever Peter was not bound to any certain Church or place,as neither were the Apostles,Mat.28.19. Mark 16:15,20. who have received the same charge and power with Peter. See John 20:23. Rev.21.14.]

18. Verily,verily,I say unto thee when thou wast younger,thou girdest thy self,[This is spoken after the manner of those people,who wore long cloaths,which they trussed up with a girdle when they would travel any whither,and make themselves ready for any work. see 2 Kings 9:1. Luke 17:18. John 13:4.] and walkedst whither thou wouldest : but when thou shalt become old,thou shalt stretch forth thine hands,[namely,to be bound] and another [namely,the executioner] shall gird thee : [that is,binde and cord thee to be put to death] and bring (thee) where thou wilt not. [namely,according to the natural inclination,which alwaies fears death. For otherwise Peter suffered death willingly also,and with joy.]

19. And this said he signifying with what manner of death,he should glorifie God ;[Namely,with what suffering he should confirm the doctrine of the Gospel to the glory of God] and having spoken this,he said unto him, follow me

20. And Peter turning him about saw the Disciple follow whom he loved,[Namely,John the Evangelist,see v.24.] who also had fallen on his brest in the supper,and had said Lord; who is it that shall betray thee? [Gr.betrayeth.]

21. When Peter saw him,he said unto Jesus, Lord, but (what) shall this (man?) [Namely,what shall befall him, i.e. with what death shall he glorifie God?]

22. Jesus said unto him if I will that he remaineth untill I come, [Namely,alive untill my last coming] what doth it concern thee,follow thou me.

23. Therefore this word went forth among Brethren,that this Disciple should not dye. And Jesus had not said unto him that he should not dy : but if I will that he remain untill I come,what doth it concern thee?

24. This is the Disciple which testifieth of these things, [Namely,John the Evangelist] and wrote these things,and we know [Namely,not I alone,but also all the Disciples of Christ,and the whole church] that his testimony is true.

25. And there are yet many other things which Jesus did, [Namely,miracles and special deeds of Christ : for otherwise that all points of doctrine necessary to salvation are written,appears John 20,31.] which if they should be written each particularly, [Gr. according to one] I account that even the world it self should not contain the written books, [this is a figurative phrase,whereby is signified a very great maltitude] Amen.