John 21 - NIV First Century Study Bible

21:1–25 The epilogue. The conclusion of John’s Gospel is like the calling of the disciples in the Synoptic Gospels and parallels the miraculous catch (see Lk 5:1–10). It’s as if the story has come full circle. The primary focus of chapter 21 concerns the disciple Peter and “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (Jn 21:7, 20). The legacy of the disciples must have been a primary concern of John’s audience.

21:11 153 fish. Though the specific nature of this number almost certainly had symbolic implications, ancient and modern interpretations of this verse vary widely. (The following summary of ancient sources comes from Brown, John I–XII, 29:1074. See discussion there for further suggestions.) Jerome claimed that the Greeks believed there were 153 kinds of fish in the sea and therefore this number represents the mission work of the disciples to all nations. However, Jerome’s supposed source actually used the number 157, and Pliny the Elder (ad 23–79) argued for 104. Jerome appears to have taken liberties with his sources. Cyril of Alexandria took a more allegorical approach: 100 represented Gentiles; 50, Israel; and 3, the Trinity. One interesting scholarly suggestion argued for the use of Jewish Gematria, the technique of using Hebrew letters and their numeric values to make interpretations. Eze 47:10 predicts that a stream will flow from the temple to the Dead Sea, where fishermen will catch large numbers of fish from En Gedi to En Eglaim. The numeric value of En Eglaim is 153.

21:17 Third time. Jesus went the same length to reinstate Peter as Peter’s triple denial of Jesus.

21:17 Feed my sheep. Shepherding is a powerful image of God and of leadership in the Hebrew Bible (see notes on Ge 46:34; Mt 10:6; Lk 2:8–15; Jn 10:11).

21:18 Stretch out your hands. This intriguing glimpse into Peter’s future was interpreted by John as a reference to Peter’s death as a martyr. Tertullian mentioned Peter’s crucifixion, and Eusebius added the detail of Peter being crucified upside down. (See discussion in Brown, John I–XII, 29:1108.)

21:19 Follow me! Jesus ended his ministry with the same call he used to begin it: the call of discipleship. The literal following of Jesus unto death seems to be implied by the context of Jesus’ words about Peter (see note on Mt 4:19).

21:21–24 Dispelling rumors. The final verses of John may have been added by John’s disciples, who were striving to dispel rumors that John would not die. This would also explain the third person perspective of verse 24. It was not unusual for disciples or followers of a great teacher to write on behalf of their teacher.