John 21:4-11

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 21:4

But when the morning was now come ,.... The day began to dawn, and light to appear, very early in the morning; for Christ visits his right early, and is a present help to them in their time of trouble. Jesus stood on the shore : on firm ground, whilst his disciples were beating about in the waves, and toiling to no purpose. So Christ, risen from the dead, is glorified, is in heaven; but not unmindful of his people amidst all their afflictions in this world: but the disciples knew not... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 21:7

Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved ,.... Which was John the Evangelist and Apostle, the writer of this Gospel: saith unto Peter, it is the Lord ; which two disciples were very intimate with each other, and communicated their thoughts freely to one another. John knew that it was the Lord, either by some special revelation, or from the multitude of fishes which were taken, and which showed a divine hand and power to be concerned. So faithful ministers of the Gospel know when Christ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 21:8

And the other disciples came in a little ship ,.... The same that they were fishing in, in which they came to Christ as soon as they could, not choosing to expose themselves, as Peter did; nor was it proper that they should leave the ship, and, as it was, might have hands few enough to bring ship and net, so full of fish, safe to shore; and the rather, they did not think fit to do as he did, for they were not far from land, but, as it were, two hundred cubits ; which was about an hundred... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 21:9

As soon then as they were come to land ,.... As soon as they were come out of the ship, and safe on shore, not only Peter, but all the rest of the disciples: they saw a fire of coals there : on the shore, to their great surprise: and fish laid there ; which could not be any that they had taken, for, as yet, the net was not drawn up, and the fish took out: and bread ; not upon the coals baking, but hard by, being ready prepared to eat with the fish, when sufficiently broiled. This... read more

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