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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 21:8

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

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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 21:1-14

(1) The manifestation of himself in the work of life. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 21:1-25

3. The epilogue, answering to the prologue. The post-resurrection life corresponds with the pre-incarnate energy of the Logos. 1. Long and sustained controversy has prevailed on the question of the authenticity and apostolic authorship of this chapter even among those who admit the Johannine authorship of the rest of the Gospel. 2. Among those who accept to the full the authenticity, there are many critics who urge that it is not an integral portion of the Gospel, but a later... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 21:8

But the other disciples came in the little boat . Either what was first described as τὸ πλοῖον is now more minutely described as πλοιάριον , "the (same) little boat," or else they had transferred themselves from the more cumbrous fishing-smack to the smaller craft which was tethered to the larger one. The reason why the other disciples came in the boat is given in the parenthesis: ( for they were not far from the land, but as it were two hundred cubits off ); i.e. about three... read more

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