John 21:18

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 21:18

When thou wast young - When in early life thou didst gird thyself, etc. The Jews, in walking or running, girded their outer garments around them, that they might not be impeded. See the notes at Matthew 5:38-41.Thou girdedst - The expression here denotes freedom. He did as he pleased - he girded himself or not he went or remained, as he chose. Perhaps the expression refers rather to that time than to the previous period of Peter’s life. “Thou being now young or in the vigor of life, hast just... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - John 21:18-19

John 21:18-19. Verily I say unto thee, When thou wast young, &c. Peter being thus restored to the apostolical office and dignity, from which he had fallen by openly denying his Master three several times, Jesus proceeded to forewarn him of the persecutions to which he in particular would be exposed in the execution of his office; intending thereby to inspire him with courage and constancy. When thou wast young thou girdedst thyself, &c. Our Lord seems to speak thus in allusion to... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - John 21:1-25

165. At the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:1-25)The disciples then returned to Galilee to wait for Jesus as they had been instructed (see Matthew 26:32; Matthew 28:10). Seven of them had spent an unsuccessful night fishing on Lake Galilee (the Sea of Tiberias) when Jesus appeared at the shore. He called out some directions to them, and although they did not recognize him they did as he said. As a result they caught a large number of fish (John 21:1-6).No doubt some of the disciples recalled a similar... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - John 21:18

Verily, verily . Twenty-fifth and last occurance of this double Amen ( App-10 ). See on John 1:51 and p. 1511. young . Greek. neoteros, younger. The positive neos applied to any one up to thirty. This and John 20:4 gave rise to the tradition that Peter was a middle-aged man. girdedst. Greek. zonnumi. Only here. wouldest . Greek. thelo. App-102 . carry = lead. Greek. phero. Compare Mark 9:17 . Luke 15:23 .Acts 14:13 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - John 21:18

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkest 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. Now this he spake signifying by what manner of death he should glorify God. And when he had thus spoken, he saith unto him, Follow me.There seems to be more than a hint here that Peter's younger life had been uninhibited. He was a very active man who... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - John 21:18-19

John 21:18-19. When thou wast young, &c.— St. Peter being thus restored to his apostolic office and dignity, Jesus proceeded to forewarn him of the persecutions, to which he, in particular, would be exposed in the execution of his office, intending thereby to inspire him with courage and constancy; but we do not read a word of that spiritual dignity and authoritywhich his pretended successors have arrogated. When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, &c. alluding perhaps to the... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - John 21:18

18, 19. When thou wast young—embracing the whole period of life to the verge of old age. thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest—wast thine own master. when . . . old thou shalt stretch forth thine hands—to be bound for execution, though not necessarily meaning on a cross. There is no reason, however, to doubt the very early tradition that Peter's death was by crucifixion. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 21:15-23

B. Jesus’ teachings about motivation for service 21:15-23Jesus now proceeded to use the miracle that He had just performed as the background for important instruction. John presented Jesus doing this many times in this Gospel. The repetition of this pattern in the epilogue is evidence that the epilogue was an original part of the Gospel. Jesus focused His teaching on Peter, but clearly He wanted all disciples to view Peter as their representative. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 21:18-19

Jesus then gave the last of the many important statements that He introduced with a strong affirmation. It was a prediction of the type of death that Peter would die.Jesus contrasted the freedom that Peter had enjoyed in his youth with the constraint that he would experience in later life. He was describing crucifixion. The phrase "stretch out your hands" (John 21:18) was a euphemistic reference to crucifixion in the Roman world. [Note: Ernst Haenchen, A Commentary on the Gospel of John ,... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - John 21:1-25

Supplementary1-25. Appendix. The Gospel is brought to a definite close, its contents are reviewed, and its purpose stated in John 20:30, John 20:31. The present chapter is therefore probably an appendix added at a later time, but (since all MSS and versions contain it) before the Gospel had been extensively copied, or had passed into general circulation. There is good reason for supposing that it is by the same author as the Gospel. For (1) the style is identical. For example, there is a... read more

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