John 21 John 21:1–11 Christ appeareth to his disciples at the sea of Tiberias, and maketh himself known by a great draught of fishes. John 21:12–14 He eateth before them.

After three several appearances of Christ to his disciples, which hitherto were all of them in Jerusalem, Christ showed himself again to them in Galilee, whither he had ordered his disciples to go, promising there to meet them, Matt. 26:32, Mark 16:7.

All the disciples were either there in several places, or going thither, according to Christ’s direction before mentioned: but either these seven were there before the rest; or else they lodged together, or near one another; so as these only are here mentioned as being together at this time, and so…

Peter and divers others were fishermen, as we have formerly heard, and had boats which they so employed. Though they were called to the work of the ministry, yet, churches not yet being gathered and constituted able to maintain them, they did not judge it unlawful to employ themselves in honest…

Probably their distance from him was the cause that they did not know him, though they had seen him once and again since his resurrection from the dead: others think, that by the providence of God their eyes were holden that they should not know him, as Luke 24:16.

He asketh them if they had any thing to eat, not because he knew not, but in order to what he intended to do to make them more attentive to the miracle which he by and by intended to work.

Though they had before laboured in vain, yet their Master’s command encourages them to go to work again; then they take a multitude of fishes; a presage, say some, of that great success which the apostles should have in their fishing for men.

There is a great dispute amongst critical writers what this fisher’s coat was; whether a loose coat, or the garment next his skin, or a fisherman’s slop.

The other disciples came in a little fishing boat, dragging the net with fishes; probably, because it was too heavy to be lifted up into the boat.

As to the question whence this fish came, there are three opinions: some think that our Saviour caught it out of the sea without a net, or by his power commanded it to come to his service; others think that the history is transposed, and this verse should in its true order come after the eleventh;…

In this one miracle there is a complication of miracles. 1. That having fished all night and caught nothing, they should at Christ’s command throw out the net on the side of the ship next the shore, and so most unlikely to have plenty of fish, and catch so many. 2.

It was in the morning, and may as well be translated, Come and break your fasts, as Come and dine. They now knew it was the Lord, if not by his face and voice, yet by this miracle; therefore they durst not ask him, for fear of a sharp reproof, after he had by such a miraculous operation made…

Those who question whether our Saviour himself did eat, seem not to consider what is written Acts 10:41, where it is expressly said, he did eat and drink with them after he rose from the dead; which he doubtless did, to show that he was truly risen from the dead, and his seeming body was not a…

The third time; that is, the third day, for upon his resurrection day he showed himself, 1. To Mary Magdalene, John 20:14. 2. To the two disciples going to Emmaus, Luke 24:15, Luke 24:31. 3. To the women going to tell his disciples, Matt. 28:9. 4. In the evening to his disciples, met, John 20:19.

Lovest thou me more than these? More than the rest of my disciples love me? For so Peter had professed, when he told our Saviour, Matt. 26:33, Though all men should be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

Divines here raise a question, why our Saviour propounds this question thrice to Peter. The most of the ancients agree, that it was because Peter had thrice denied him.

John 21:19 gives us the general scope of John 21:15, viz. that it was a prediction of that particular death by which Peter should die, which was (if we may believe what the ancients have generally reported, and we can have no other proof) by crucifying; in which kind of death the hands of the…

That is, he saw John, whom we have often before heard so described.

Do is not in the Greek, nor possibly is so properly added: the sense is, What shall become of this man? What shall be his fate? What shall he suffer?

Our Lord only checks the curiosity of Peter, and minds him to attend things which himself was concerned in; telling him, he was not concerned what became of John, whether he should die, or abide upon the earth until Christ’s second coming: it was Peter’s concern, without regarding what others did,…

But the disciples, knowing the particular kindness our Saviour had for John, upon these words, not duly attended to, concluded John should abide upon the earth to the second coming of Christ.

John, who wrote this Gospel, was that disciple whom Jesus loved, who leaned on our Saviour’s breast at supper, and inquired who should betray Christ; of whom Peter spake, John 21:21, and who testifieth these things, both concerning Peter, and concerning himself, and the church: the ancient church…

But none must imagine that all Christ’s sermons, or miracles, are recorded in this book, or in any of the other Gospels; the world would have been too much filled with books, if all spoke or done by our Saviour had been written.