John 21 - Holman KJV Study Bible

21:1–25 This epilogue narrates ­Jesus' third and final resurrection appearance recorded in this Gospel and contrasts the callings of Peter and the disciple "­Jesus loved."

21:1 With the week-long Feast of Unleavened Bread now past, the disciples left Jerusalem and returned to Galilee (see note at 20:26; cp. Luke 2:43). On the sea of Tiberias, see note at 6:1.

21:2 The names of the sons of Zebedee are given in the Synoptic Gospels as James and John (Matt. 4:21; see note at John 1:40). Luke mentioned that they were "partners with Simon" in the fishing business before they were called to follow ­Jesus as disciples (Luke 5:10).

21:3 Night was the preferred time for fishing in ancient times (Luke 5:5). Fish could be sold fresh in the morning market.

21:7 The disciple whom Jesus loved must be one of the seven mentioned in verse 2, which included Zebedee's sons, and was almost certainly John the son of Zebedee, author of this Gospel (see note at v. 24). Naked here means "lacking an outer garment." Peter put on his coat because it would be culturally inappropriate to greet his Master without it.

21:9 On the fire of coals, see note at 18:18.

21:11 Various attempts have been made to interpret the number 153 symbolically, but most likely it simply represents an accurate, eyewitness account of the actual number of fish. Large numbers elsewhere in John are meant literally as well (2:6; 12:3).

21:13 By taking the bread and fish and giving them to His disciples, ­Jesus acted as a Jewish host pronouncing the blessing at a meal (6:11,23).

21:15-17 On Simon, see note at 1:42. ­Jesus did not call him a "rock" at this point. ­Jesus' first question probably meant, "Do you love Me more than these disciples love Me?" rather than, "Do you love Me more than you love these fish [i.e., his profession]?" or "Do you love Me more than you love these men?"—though each of the three meanings is grammatically possible. Peter had denied ­Jesus three times (18:15-18,25-27); now ­Jesus asked him three times to reaffirm his love for Him before recommissioning him for gospel service.

21:18 Stretch forth thy hands refers to crucifixion, where a person's hands and arms are spread out and nailed to the crossbeam. Tradition says Peter chose to be crucified upside down because he felt himself unworthy of dying in the same exact manner as ­Jesus.

21:19 The reference signifying by what death he [Peter] should glorify God echoes the reference "signifying what death he [Jesus] should die" in 12:33. This verse therefore establishes a connection between the deaths of ­Jesus and Peter. As God's Lamb, ­Jesus died for the sins of the world (1:29,36); Peter died a martyr's death, giving his life as a witness to his faith in ­Jesus.

21:20 On the disciple whom Jesus loved, see note at 13:23.

21:21-23 Like the final chapter of Matthew, the closing verses of John's Gospel dispel a rumor. Matthew denied that ­Jesus' disciples stole His body (Matt. 28:11-15; cp. Matt. 27:62-66) while John sought to lay to rest the rumor that Christ had promised to return during John's lifetime. ­Jesus did not say that John would not die, but that Peter should not concern himself with John's business.

21:24 This is the disciple is a third-person authorial self-reference. Again, this is the "disciple whom ­Jesus loved," one of the twelve, the son of Zebedee, the apostle John (cp. v v. 7,20; see note at 13:23). We know represents an instance of the author including himself along with his audience.

21:25 John acknowledged that he had to be selective, choosing from a vast amount of material about ­Jesus (specifically, the "signs"cp. ; 20:30-31).