John 21:4-11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 21:10

Jesus saith unto them ,.... The disciples: bring of the fish which ye have now caught : for they might have caught some before, though so few and small, as scarcely to be reckoned any; nor were they bid to bring all they had taken, only some of them, to add to these Christ had prepared for them on land; they being both indeed of a miraculous production, and the effects of his divine power. Christ's view in ordering to bring some of them, and put to those that lay upon the coals, was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 21:11

Simon Peter went up ,.... Either to the sea, that being higher than the land, or to the ship which lay by the shore: he went aboard it, and drew the net to land full of great fishes ; not alone, but others of the disciples with him; though he only is mentioned, being the leading person in this affair; an emblem of the whole number of God's elect being brought safe to shore, to Christ, and to heaven, through various tribulations and afflictions in the world, fitly signified by the waves... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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 . 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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 only. In 1 Samuel 19:24 , when Saul had put off his ἱματια , upper garments, he is said to have been γυμνος , naked; and David, when girded only with a linen ephod, is said to have been uncovered, in 2 Samuel... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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 net, those who were on shore helped them to drag it in. As the net was sunk with weights to the bottom, and the top floated on the water by corks, or pieces of light wood, all the fish that happened to come within... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 21:9

They saw a fire, etc. - 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 eat with it. The whole appears to have been miraculously prepared by Christ. 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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 21:7

Verse 7 7.Therefore the disciple whom Jesus loved saith to Peter. The Evangelist shows, by his example, that it is our duty to raise our hearts to God, whenever we succeed in any thing beyond our expectation; because we ought instantly to remember that this act of kindness has flowed from the favor of Him who is the Author of every blessing. That holy recognition of the grace of God, which dwelt in the heart of John, led him also to the knowledge of Christ; for he does not perceive Christ with... read more

Group of Brands