Joh 21:1-14 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 1. The sea of Tiberias . Called also the Sea of Galilee, being situated in Galilee. . In this place Jesus had promised to meet them, . This interview of Jesus is but just mentioned by Matthew ( ), and is omitted by both Mark and Luke. This is the reason why John relates so particularly what occurred there. Galilee was a retired place where they would be free from danger, and was therefore a safe and convenient situation for Jesus to meet them, in order to give them his last instructions. On this wise . Thus. In this manner.

John 21:1-14

Verse 1. The sea of Tiberias. Called also the Sea of Galilee, being situated in Galilee. Mt 4:18. In this place Jesus had promised to meet them, Mk 14:28, 16:7, Mt 26:32, 28:10. This interview of Jesus is but just mentioned by Matthew (Mt 28:16), and is omitted by both Mark and Luke. This is the reason why John relates so particularly what occurred there. Galilee was a retired place where they would be free from danger, and was therefore a safe and convenient situation for Jesus to meet them, in order to give them his last instructions.

On this wise. Thus. In this manner. Verse 2. There were together. Probably residing in the same place. While they were waiting for the promise of the Holy Spirit, they still found it proper to be usefully employed. Their Master had been taken away by death, and the promised Spirit had not descended on them. In the interval---before the promised Spirit was poured upon them-- they chose not to be idle, and therefore returned to their former employment. It is to be remarked, also, that they had no other means of support. While with Jesus, they were commonly supplied by the kindness of the people; but now, when the Saviour had died, they were cut off from this means of support, and returned to the honest labour of their early lives. Moreover, they had been directed by the Saviour to repair to a mountain in Galilee, where he would meet them, Mt 28:10. This was probably not far from the Sea of Galilee, so that, until he came to them, they would naturally be engaged in their old employment. Ministers of the gospel should be willing to labour, if necessary, for their own support, and should not esteem such labour dishonourable. God has made employment indispensable to man, and if the field of labour is not open in one way, they should seek it in another. If at any time the people withhold the supply of their wants, they should be able and willing to seek support in some other honest occupation.

(a) "Nathanael of Cana" Jn 1:45 (b) "the sons of Zebedee" Mt 4:21 Verse 3. That night they caught nothing. This was so ordered in the providence of God that the miracle which was wrought might appear more remarkable. Verse 4. Knew not that it was Jesus. Probably it was yet twilight, and in the distance they could not distinctly recognize him.

Any meat. This word (Greek) means anything eaten with bread. It was used by the Greeks especially to denote fish (Schleusner)

(d) "Jesus saith unto them" Lk 24:41 (1) "Children" or, "Sirs" Verse 6. On the right side. Why the right side is mentioned is not known. Grotius supposes that it was the side nearest the shore, where there was less probability of taking fish. It does not appear that they yet recognized the Lord Jesus but from some cause they had sufficient confidence in him to make another trial. Perhaps they judged that he was one skilled in that employment, and knew where there was the greatest probability of success.

(e) "Cast the net on the right" Lk 5:4-7 Verse 7. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved. Jn 13:23.

It is the Lord. He was convinced, perhaps, by the apparent miracle, and by looking more attentively on the person of one who had been the means of such unexpected and remarkable success.

His fisher's coat. His upper or outer garment or tunic, in distinction from the inner garment or tunic which was worn next the skin. In the case of Peter it may have been made of coarse materials such as fishermen commonly wore, or such as Peter usually wore when he was engaged in this employment. Such garments are common with men of this occupation. This outer garment he probably had laid aside.

He was naked. He was undressed, with nothing on but the under garment or tunic. The word does not require us to suppose a greater degree of nakedness than this. Mk 14:51, 1Sam 19:24.

Did cast himself into the sea. With characteristic ardour, desirous of meeting again his Lord, and showing his affection for him. Verse 8. Two hundred cubits. About 350 feet, or a little more than 20 rods. Verse 9. They saw a fire, &c. We have no knowledge whence this was produced-- whether it was, as Grotius supposes, by a miracle, or whether it was a place occupied by other fishermen, where they also might cook the fish which they had caught. As no miracle is mentioned, however, there is no reason for supposing that any existed in the case. Verse 11. An hundred and fifty and three. The number is mentioned because it seems to have been a very unusual draught, and it was particularly gratifying and striking to them after they had spent the whole night and had caught nothing. This convinced them that it was no other than the same Saviour who had so often worked wonders before them that was now with them. Verse 12. Come and dine. The word in the original means the meal which is taken in the morning, or breakfast. Verse 13. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, &c. It is not said that Jesus himself ate with them, but he gave them food. The design of this interview seems to have been to convince them that he had truly risen from the dead. Hence he performed a miracle before they suspected that it was he, that there might be no room to say that they had ascribed to him the power of the miracle through friendship and collusion with him. The miracle was such as to satisfy them of its truth, and was, in accordance with all his works, not for mere display, but for utility. He remained with them, was with them at their meal, conversed with them, and thus convinced them that he was the same Friend who had died.

(f) "Jesus then cometh" Acts 10:41 Verse 14. The third time. See the "Harmony of the Accounts of the Resurrection of Jesus" at the end of Matthew.

(g) "This is now the third time" Jn 20:19,26