John

Focuses on the divinity of Jesus, presenting Him as the Word made flesh and emphasizing His miraculous signs.

Chapter 21

1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.

*Afterward, Jesus appeared once more to his followers near the Sea of Tiberias. In a special way, he revealed himself to them.

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.

*Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two more disciples were all together with Jesus.

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.

*Peter tells them he's going fishing. They reply, "We're coming too." Right away, they get on a boat. That night, they don't catch anything.

4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

*But as morning arrived, Jesus appeared on the shore, but the disciples didn't know it was him.

5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.

*Then Jesus asked them, "Children, do you have any food?" They replied, "No."

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.

*He told them to throw the net on the right side of the boat, and they would catch fish. So they did, but they couldn't pull the net in because there were so many fish.

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.

*So, the disciple that Jesus loved told Peter, "It's the Lord." When Peter heard this, he put on his fishing coat and jumped into the sea to swim to Jesus.

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.

*The other disciples arrived in a small boat. They weren't far from shore, about 200 steps away, and they were pulling in their fishing net full of fish.

9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.

*As soon as they reached the shore, they noticed a fire with hot coals and fish on top, along with bread.

10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

*Jesus tells them, "Bring the fish you've caught right now."

11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

*Simon Peter climbed up and pulled the net to the shore, filled with 153 large fish. Amazingly, even with so many fish, the net didn't break.

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.

*Jesus tells them, "Come eat with me." The disciples didn't dare ask who he was because they knew it was the Lord.

13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.

*Jesus comes, takes the bread, gives it to them, and also gives them fish.

14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

*Jesus appeared to his followers three times after coming back to life.

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.

*After they ate, Jesus asked Peter, "Peter, son of John, do you love me more than them?" Peter replied, "Yes, Lord, you know I love you." Then Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

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.

*Jesus asks Peter again, "Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me?" Peter replies, "Yes, Lord, you know I love you." Jesus tells Peter, "Take care of my sheep."

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.

*Jesus asks Peter for the third time if he loves Him. Peter is sad about this question and tells Jesus that He knows he loves Him. Jesus then tells Peter to take care of His sheep.

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.

*Truly, truly, I tell you this: When you were young, you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you get old, you will rely on others to help you dress and carry you places you don't want to go.

19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

*He said this, showing how he would die to honor God. After saying that, he told him, "Follow me."

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 Peter looked around and saw the disciple Jesus loved following. This same disciple rested on Jesus' chest during a meal and asked, "Lord, who will betray you?"

21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

*Peter asks Jesus, "Lord, what will you have this man do?"

22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

*Jesus tells him, "If I want him to stay until I return, what does it matter to you? Just follow me."

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?

*The news spread among the followers that the disciple wouldn't die. However, Jesus didn't say he wouldn't die, but instead asked, "If I want him to stay until I return, what does it matter to you?"

24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.

*This person witnessed and wrote about these events, and we know his account is accurate.

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.

*Jesus did many other things too. If we wrote about all of them, there wouldn't be enough books in the world to hold them all. Amen.

read summary

Back to Chapters

Back to Books

* work in progress, there will be mistakes