John 21:9-13

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 21:9

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

John Gill

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 21:12

Jesus saith unto them, come and dine ,.... One would think it should rather have been said, come and take a breakfast than a dinner, since it was so early in the morning: but Grotius has observed, out of Homer, that αριστον , is used for food taken in a morning; so that it may signify here, not what we properly call dining, but eating a morning's meal; and may be an emblem of that spiritual refreshment believers enjoy with Christ in his house and ordinances now, and of those everlasting... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 21:13

Jesus then cometh and taketh bread ,.... After they had taken the fish out of the net, and all was prepared for the meal, and the disciples were set down to eat, Christ came and took his place as the master of the feast, and head of the family; and taking up the bread, as was his usual method, he asked a blessing over it, and gave thanks for it. Beza's ancient copy, and one of Stephens's read, "and having given thanks he gave", &c.; which is agreeably to his usual practice at meals. ... 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

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