John 21:2

John evidently identified all the disciples who were present on this occasion, five of them by name or patronym and two others anonymously. Simon Peter was the disciples’ leader even after his denial of Jesus. Thomas was obviously a believer (John 20:28) perhaps suggesting that what follows has special importance for believing disciples. John mentioned Nathanael earlier (John 1:45-51), but here alone he identified this disciple as from Cana in Galilee. Perhaps he did so to remind the reader of Jesus’ early signs that happened in Cana (John 2:1-11; John 4:46-54) since Jesus was about to perform another miracle. Zebedee’s sons were James and John, though John did not identify them this way before. Perhaps this was John’s way of hinting at his own presence as an eyewitness of what follows without drawing too much attention to himself. The two unnamed disciples brought the total to seven.

The exact number may be another detail designed to add credibility to the account, or John may have been hinting that a complete number of disciples was present. Seven was a number that symbolized completeness to the Jews (cf. Genesis 2:2-3; et al.). He may have been implying that the lesson that Jesus taught here was applicable to the full complement of disciples.