John 21

John 21:1

ON this wise shewed he himself] He setteth down the time, place, persons, occasion and manner of Christs appearing to them, to shew the evidence and certainty of his resurrection.

John 21:3

I go a fishing] For though they were made fishers of men, they had not yet received those visible gifts of the holy Ghost, which were to furnish them out to that great work of preaching the Gospell to all Nations. Moreover they wrought in their calling to supply their necessities, as Paul also sometimes did, 2 Thess. 3. 8. Luk. 24 49.

John 21:5

Children] Or, Sirs.

John 21:7

girt his fishers coat unto him] Some close linen coat, which hindered not their swimming.

John 21:14

This is now the third time] That he shewed himself to his Apostles. For if you reckon his apparition to Mary, it should be the fourth.

John 21:15

lambes] The souls committed to thy charge.

John 21:17

the third time] This often repetition of the charge, doth not onely occasion Peters three times confession, opposed to his three denials: but chiefly declareth it to be the main dutie of the Ministers, and argument of his true love to Christ, to feed the flock depending on them.

John 21:18

girdest thy self] This he spake alluding to the manner of the Eastern Countries, where wearing long loose garments they could on occasion, at their pleasure, gird them to their bodies to prepare themselves for travell or labour; and withall in the next words, to the binding of Peter as a prisoner for execution.

John 21:20

whom Jesus loved] Chap. 13. 23. and 20. 2.

John 21:21

what shall this man do?] That is, shall he not also feed thy sheep? shall he be divided from me? or how shall he die?

John 21:23

what is that to thee] He forbiddeth curiositie in enquiring after other mens conditions.

John 21:25

And there are also] Chap. 20. 30.

the world it self could not contain] In this speech he followeth the vulgar manner of speaking: as John 12:19. The meaning of this Hyperbole is, there would be very many books: moreover he here glanceth at the depth of some mysteries in the words and actions of Christ, which the world could not have apprehended, had they been written. See Chap. 16. 12.