John Chapter 21 — The Restoration of Peter

¹After these things, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself this way.

²Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus,*or, Twin Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.

³Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing.”

⁴But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus.

⁵Jesus therefore said to them, “Children, have you anything to eat?”

⁶He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.”

⁷That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!”

⁸But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits†200 cubits is about 100 yards or about 91 meters away), dragging the net full of fish.

⁹So when they got out on the land, they saw a fire of coals there, with fish and bread laid on it.

¹⁰Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”

¹¹Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of one hundred fifty-three great fish. Even though there were so many, the net wasn’t torn.

¹²Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast!”

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

¹⁴This is now the third time that Jesus was revealed to his disciples after he had risen from the dead.

¹⁵So when they had eaten their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?”

¹⁶He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?”

¹⁷He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you have affection for me?”

¹⁸Most certainly I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted to. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you don’t want to go.”

¹⁹Now he said this, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. When he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

²⁰Then Peter, turning around, saw a disciple following. This was the disciple whom Jesus loved, the one who had also leaned on Jesus’ chest at the supper and asked, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”

²¹Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?”

²²Jesus said to him, “If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.”

²³This saying therefore went out among the brothers‡The word for “brothers” here may be also correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.” that this disciple wouldn’t die. Yet Jesus didn’t say to him that he wouldn’t die, but, “If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you?”

²⁴This is the disciple who testifies about these things, and wrote these things. We know that his witness is true.

²⁵There are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they would all be written, I suppose that even the world itself wouldn’t have room for the books that would be written.