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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 21:1-14

We have here an account of Christ's appearance to his disciples at the sea of Tiberias. Now, 1. Let us compare this appearance with those that went before, In those Christ showed himself to his disciples when they were met in a solemn assembly (it should seem, for religious worship) upon a Lord's day, and when they were all together, perhaps expecting his appearing; but in this he showed himself to some of them occasionally, upon a week-day, when they were fishing, and little thought of it.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 21:1-14

21:1-14 After these things Jesus again showed himself to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. This was the way in which he showed himself. Simon Peter, and Thomas, who is called Didymus, and Nathanael, who came from Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples, were together. Simon Peter said to them: "I am going to fish." They said to him: "We, too, are coming with you." They went out, and went on board the boat, and that night they caught nothing. When early morning... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 21:1-14

Now we come to the first great reason why this strange chapter was added to the already finished gospel. It was to demonstrate once and for all the reality of the Resurrection. There were many who said that the appearances of the Risen Christ were nothing more than visions which the disciples had. Many would admit the reality of the visions but insist that they were still only visions. Some would go further and say that they were not visions but hallucinations. The gospels go far out of their... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 21:1-14

There is a second great truth symbolized here. In the Fourth Gospel everything is meaningful, and it is therefore hardly possible that John gives the definite number one hundred and fifty-three for the fishes without meaning something by it. It has indeed been suggested that the fishes were counted simply because the catch had to be shared out between the various partners and the crew of the boat, and that the number was recorded simply because it was so exceptionally large. But when we... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 21:5

Then Jesus saith unto them, children ,.... And still they knew him not, though he used this endearing and familiar appellation, and which they had been wont to hear from him; and he had called them by a little before his departure from them, John 13:33 and which he uses here as expressive of his tender affection for them, their relation to him, and that he might be known by them: have ye any meat? that is, as the Syriac renders it, מדם למלעס , "anything to eat"; meaning fish that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 21:6

And he said unto them ,.... Willing to make himself known by a miracle, since they knew him not by his person, nor voice: cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find ; that is, a large multitude of fish, as they did. The ship was an emblem of the church in its present afflicted state; the right side of it points to the elect, and where they are to be found in this world; the casting of the net signifies the preaching of the Gospel; the promise of finding fish, the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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 meat - Προσφαγιον from προς , besides, and φαγω , I eat; any thing that is eaten with bread, or such like solid substances, to make the deglutition the more easy: here it evidently means any kind of fish; and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 21:6

And ye shall find - The Ethiopic, three copies of the Itala, and St. Cyril, add, They said therefore unto him, we have labored 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 of fishes - This was intended as an emblem of the immense number of souls which should be converted to God by their ministry; according to the promise of Christ, Matthew 4:19 . read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 21:6

Verse 6 6.Cast the net on the right side of the ship. Christ does not command with authority and power as Master and Lord, but gives advice like one of the people; and the disciples, being at a loss what to do, readily obey him, though they did not know who he was. If, before the first casting of the net, any thing of this sort had been said to them, they would not have so quickly obeyed. I mention this, that no one may wonder that they were so submissive, for they had already been worn out by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 21:1-8

The fishing in Galilee. This chapter is an appendix to the Gospel written by the Apostle John. I. THE SCENE OF OUR LORD 'S NEXT APPEARANCE TO THE DISCIPLES . "After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias." 1. It was not at Jerusalem, which was now forsaken and, in a sense, abandoned to its own delusions. 2. It was at the scene of our Lord's opening ministry. II. THE DISCIPLES TO WHOM OUR LORD ... read more

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