John 21

1 Later [after these things, following this], by the Sea [a large body of water] of Tiberias [a city in Galilee], Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] again [once more, a second time] revealed [made visible, manifested] Himself [His divine nature, His person] to the disciples [learners, pupils]. He made [revealed, showed] Himself known [visible, apparent] in this way [thus, in this manner]: word study 2 Simon Peter [one of Jesus’ twelve apostles], Thomas [the Twin] called Didymus, Nathanael [a devout Israelite] from Cana [a town in Galilee where Jesus performed a miracle] in Galilee [a region in Palestine], the sons of Zebedee [James and John, also apostles], and two other [additional, unnamed] disciples were together [in the same place, at the same time]. word study 3 Simon Peter [one of Jesus’ twelve apostles] told them, “I am going [to depart, to leave] fishing [to catch fish, to provide].” “We will go [to depart, to leave] with you [to accompany, to follow],” they said. So they went out [to depart, to leave] and got into the boat [a vessel for fishing, a means of provision], but caught [to take hold of, to seize] nothing [no fish, no success] that night [a period of darkness, a time of waiting]. word study 4 Early [at daybreak, when morning was now come] in the morning, Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] stood [was present, in an upright position] on the shore [the beach, the sea-shore], but the disciples [learners, pupils] did not recognize [did not perceive, knew not] that it was Jesus [the son of God, the Savior]. word study 5 So He [Jesus, the Messiah] called out to them, “Children [young ones, disciples], do you have [possess, hold] any [some, a portion of] fish [provisions, food]?” “No [not at all, none],” they answered [responded, replied]. word study 6 He told them, “Cast [throw out, let down] the net [a fishing tool, a seine] on the right [the favorable side] side of the boat [a vessel for fishing], and you will find [discover, come upon] some [a multitude, a large number].” So they cast [threw out, let down] it there, and they were unable [not strong enough, lacking the power] to haul [draw, pull] it in because of the great [abundant, multitude] number of fish [a type of seafood]. word study 7 Then the disciple [a learner, follower] whom Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] loved [showing esteem and goodwill] said to Peter [a rock or stone, a name given by Jesus], “It is the Lord [the Greek word for lord or master, used to address God or a person in authority]!” As soon as Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord [the one having power and authority], he put on his outer garment [a coat or cloak, for he was naked] (for he had removed it) and jumped into the sea [a large body of water]. word study 8 The other [remaining, additional] disciples came ashore in the [small, little] boat. They dragged in the net [seine, fishing tool] full of fish [a type of aquatic creature], for they were not far [at a distance, remote] from land [earth, soil], only about a hundred yards [two hundred cubits, a unit of measurement]. word study 9 When they landed [came to shore, stepped out of the boat], they saw a charcoal fire [a fire of coals, burning embers] there with fish [a large fish, a fish laid on the fire] on it, and some bread [loaves, food]. word study 10 Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] told them, “Bring [lead, carry] some of the fish [often dried and salted as a condiment] you have just [now, in this present moment] caught [taken hold of, arrested].” word study 11 So Simon Peter [the rock, Jesus’ apostle] went aboard and dragged the net [a fishing tool, seine] ashore. It was full [completely filled] of large [great, mighty] fish, 153, but even with so many [a great number, an abundance], the net [fishing tool, seine] was not [never] torn [split, divided]. word study 12 “Come [dine], have breakfast,” Jesus [the Lord, God’s salvation] said to them [the disciples, His followers]. None [not one, no one] of the disciples dared [were brave enough, had the courage] to ask Him [directly, with confidence], “Who [which one, what person] are You [the Lord, the Master]?” They knew [were aware, had perceived] it was the Lord [God, the Supreme One]. word study 13 Jesus [the Son of God, the Savior] came [approached, drew near] and took [received, accepted] the bread [food, nourishment] and gave [bestowed, granted] it to them, and He did [performed, accomplished] the same [similarly, in like manner] with the fish [often dried and salted]. word study 14 This [now, at this point] was [already, even now] now the third [in a sequence, following two previous times] time that Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] appeared [was manifested, showed himself] to the disciples [learners, pupils] after He was raised [brought back to life, resurrected] from the dead [lifeless, without spiritual life]. word study 15 When they had finished eating [after breakfast, when they had dined], Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John [Jonah], do you [have a deep affection for] love Me [with a sacrificial love] more than [in comparison to] these [other disciples]?” “Yes, Lord [Master, God],” he answered, “You know [are aware of, perceive] I [have a strong affection for] love You [with a deep affection].” Jesus replied, “Feed [to nourish spiritually] My lambs [young, innocent ones, symbolizing new believers].” word study 16 Jesus asked a second time [again, once more], “Simon [son of Jonah] son of John, do you [truly, deeply] love [have affection for, esteem] Me?” “Yes, Lord [God, Master],” he answered, “You know [are aware, perceive] I love [have love for, cherish] You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd [tend, care for] My sheep [followers, people].” word study 17 Jesus asked a third time [for the third occasion, as a final inquiry], “Simon son of John [Jonah, a prophet], do you [truly, deeply] love [have affection for, cherish] Me?” Peter was deeply hurt [grieved, troubled] that Jesus had asked him a third time [repeatedly, with emphasis], “Do you [really, sincerely] love [care for, be devoted to] Me?” “Lord [Master, Savior], You know all things [are all-knowing, omniscient],” he replied. “You know I [truly, deeply] love [am devoted to, care for] You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed [nourish, care for] My sheep [followers, disciples]. word study 18 Truly, truly, I tell you [verily, I say unto thee], when you were young [in your earlier years], you dressed yourself [girdedst thyself] and walked where you wanted [whither thou wouldest]; but when you are old [when thou shalt be old], you will stretch out your hands [thou shalt stretch forth thy hands], and someone else [another] will dress you [gird thee] and lead you where you do not want to go [whither thou wouldest not].” word study 19 Jesus said this [signifying] to indicate the kind of death [violent, on a cross] by which Peter would glorify [give praise and honor to] God [the one true deity]. And after He had said this [spoken these words], He told him, “Follow [accompany, obey] Me.” word study 20 Peter [the rock, a disciple of Jesus] turned and saw the disciple [a learner, a follower] whom Jesus [the Savior, God’s Son] loved [with a deep, divine affection] following them. He was the one who had leaned back [reclined, rested] against Jesus [the Messiah, the Lord] at the supper [the last meal, a time of fellowship] to ask, “Lord [Master, God], who is going to betray [deliver, surrender] You [to the authorities, to death]?” word study 21 When Peter [the rock, a disciple] saw him, he asked, “Lord [Master, God, the One in authority], what about [concerning, regarding] him [this one, the specific individual]?” word study 22 Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] answered, “If [indicating uncertainty or possibility] I want [to will or desire] him to remain [to stay] until [showing when something continues or ends] I return [to come or go], what [asking for information] is that to you [towards or with you]? You follow [to accompany] Me [emphasizing the speaker]!” word study 23 Because of this [as a result, therefore], the rumor [saying, report] spread among the brothers [believers, fellow Christians] that this disciple [learner, follower] would not die [pass away, stop living]. However, Jesus did not say [declare, speak] that he would not die [experience physical death], but only, “If I want [desire, will] him to remain [stay, abide] until I return [come back, come again], what is that [this matter, concern] to you [your business, your concern]?” word study 24 This [the specific, chosen] is the disciple [learner, follower] who testifies [bears witness, gives evidence] to these things [events, truths] and who has written [recorded, documented] them down [in detail, for posterity]. And we know [perceive, are convinced] that his testimony [witness, evidence] is true [reliable, trustworthy, genuine]. word study 25 There are many [numerous] more things that Jesus [the Christ, God’s Anointed] did [accomplished, performed]. If all of them [every one, each] were written down [recorded, documented], I suppose [think, consider] that not even the world [the cosmos, all creation] itself would have space [room, capacity] for the books [scrolls, written accounts] that would be written [recorded, composed]. word study