CHAPTER XXI. _Jesus shows himself to the disciples at the sea of_ _Tiberias_, 1-5. _The miraculous draught of fishes_, 6-11. _He dines with his disciples_, 12-14. _Questions Peter concerning his love to him, and gives him_ _commission to feed his sheep_, 15-17. _Foretells the manner of Peter'... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 21:3. _PETER SAITH - I GO A FISHING._] Previously to the crucifixion of our Lord, the temporal necessities of himself and his disciples appear to have been supplied by the charity of individuals: Luke 8:3. As it is probable that the scandal of the cross had now shut up this source of supp... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 21:4. _KNEW NOT THAT IT WAS JESUS._] Probably because it was either not light enough, or he was at too great a distance, or he had assumed another form, as in Mark 16:12; otherwise his person was so remarkable that all his disciples readily knew him when he was at hand: see John 21:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 21:5. _CHILDREN_] παιδια, a term of familiarity and affectionate kindness: it is the vocative case plural of παιδιον, which is the _diminutive_ of παις, and literally signifies _little_ _children_, or _beloved children_. How the _margin_ has made _sirs_ out of it I cannot conceive. _ANY... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 21:6. _AND YE SHALL FIND._] The _AEthiopic, three_ copies of the _Itala_, and St. _Cyril_, add, _They said therefore unto him, we have_ _laboured all the night and caught nothing, nevertheless at thy_ _command we will let down the net_. This is borrowed from Luke 5:5. _FOR THE MULTITUDE... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 21:7. His _FISHER'S COAT_] Or, his _upper coat_. επενδυτην, from επι, _upon_, and ενδυω, _I clothe_; something analagous to what we term a _great coat_ or _surtout_. _HE WAS NAKED_] He was only in his _vest_. γυμνος, _naked_, is often used to signify the _absence_ of this _upper garment... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 21:8. _DRAGGING THE NET_] It is probable that this was that species of fishing in which the net was stretched from the shore out into the sea; the persons who were in the boat, and who shot the net, fetched a compass, and bringing in a hawser, which was attached to the other end of the ne... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 21:9. _THEY SAW A FIRE_, c.] This appears to have been a new miracle. It could not have been a fire which the disciples had there, for it is remarked as something _new_ besides, they had caught no fish, John 21:5, and here was a small fish upon the coals, and a loaf of bread provided to e... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 21:12. _COME AND DINE._] δευτε αριστησατε. Though this is the _literal_ translation of the word, yet it must be observed that it was not dinner time, being as yet early in the morning, John 21:4; but Kypke has largely shown that the original word is used by _Homer, Xenophon_, and _Plutarc... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 21:13. _AND GIVETH THEM_] Eating likewise with them, as Luke expressly says: Luke 24:43.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 21:14. _THIS IS NOW THE THIRD TIME_] That is, this was the _third_ time he appeared unto the apostles, when _all_ or _most_ of them were together. He appeared to _ten_ of them, John 20:19; again to _eleven_ of them, John 20:26; and at this time to _seven_ of them, John 21:2. But, when the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 21:15. _SIMON LOVEST THOU ME_] Peter had _thrice_ denied his Lord, and now Christ gives him an opportunity in some measure to repair his fault by a _triple_ confession. _MORE THAN THESE?_] This was a kind of reproach to Peter: he had professed a more affectionate attachment to Christ th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 21:17. _PETER WAS GRIEVED_] Fearing, says St. Chrysostom, lest Christ saw something in his heart which he saw not himself, and which might lead to _another fall_; and that Christ was about to tell him of it, as he had before predicted his denial.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 21:18. _THOU SHALT STRETCH FORTH THY HANDS_] Wetstein observes that it was a custom at Rome to put the necks of those who were to be crucified into a yoke, and to _stretch out their hands_ and fasten them to the end of it; and having thus led them through the city they were carried out to... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 21:19. _SHOULD GLORIFY GOD._] Ancient writers state that, about thirty-four years after this, Peter was crucified; and that he deemed it so _glorious_ a thing to die for Christ that he begged to be crucified with his _head downwards_, not considering himself worthy to die in the same post... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 21:22. _IF I WILL THAT HE TARRY TILL I COME_] There are several opinions concerning this: the following are the principal. 1. Some have concluded from these words that John should _never die_. Many eminent men, _ancients_ and _moderns_, have been and are of this opinion. 2. Others thoug... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 21:24. _THIS IS THE DISCIPLE_] It is, I think, very likely that these two verses were added by some of the believers at that time, as a testimony to the truth of the preceding narration; and I allow, with Bishop Pearce and others, that it is _possible_ that John may mean himself when he s... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse John 21:25. _MANY OTHER THINGS_] _Before his disciples_, is added by _two_ MSS. The Scholia in several MSS. intimate that this verse is an _addition_; but it is found in every ancient version, and in _Origen, Cyril_, and _Chrysostom_. _COULD NOT CONTAIN_, c.] _Origen's_ signification of the w... [ Continue Reading ]