John

After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.

1Later, Jesus let his followers see him again, by the Sea of Tiberias. This is how it happened.

2There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.

2Simon Peter was there with Thomas (also called Didymus, which means Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the two sons of Zebedee, and two more of Jesus' followers.

3Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

3Simon Peter said, "I am going fishing." They said, "We will come with you." They went out and got into the boat, but caught nothing that night.

4But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

4When morning came, Jesus was standing on the shore. But his followers did not know it was Jesus.

5Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.

5Jesus called to them, "Children, do you have any fish to eat?" They answered, "No."

NoteThe KJV says "meat," which in 1611 meant food of any kind, not just meat from an animal. Here Jesus is asking whether they have caught any fish.

6And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

6He said, "Throw your net out on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." They did, and could not pull it in, there were so many fish.

7Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

7Then the follower Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord." When Simon Peter heard that, he pulled on his coat, because he had taken it off, and jumped into the water.

NoteThe KJV says Peter "was naked." It means he had taken off his outer coat to work, as fishermen did, not that he wore nothing.

8And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.

8The other followers came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish. They were only about a hundred yards from land.

NoteThe KJV measures the distance as two hundred cubits. A cubit was about eighteen inches, so this is roughly a hundred yards.

9As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.

9When they reached the shore, they saw a charcoal fire burning, with fish cooking on it, and some bread.

10Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

10Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you just caught."

11Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

11Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net onto the land. It was full of big fish, 153 of them, and the net had not torn.

12Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.

12Jesus said, "Come and eat." None of them dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.

13Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.

13Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them. He gave them the fish the same way.

14This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

14This was the third time Jesus let his followers see him after he rose from the dead.

15So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

15When they finished eating, Jesus said, "Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me more than these?" Peter said, "Yes, Lord. You know I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

16He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

16A second time Jesus said, "Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me?" Peter said, "Yes, Lord. You know I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

17He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

17A third time Jesus asked, "Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me?" It hurt Peter to be asked three times. He said, "Lord, you know everything. You know I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep."

18Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

18"I tell you the truth. When you were young, you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted. When you are old, you will stretch out your hands. Someone else will dress you and take you where you do not want to go."

19This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

19Jesus said this to show what kind of death Peter would die, and how that death would honor God. Then he said to him, "Follow me."

20Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?

20Peter turned and saw the follower Jesus loved walking behind them. This was the one who had leaned close to Jesus at supper and asked, "Lord, who is going to hand you over?"

21Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

21When Peter saw him, he asked Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?"

22Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

22Jesus answered, "If I want him to stay alive until I come back, how does that concern you? You follow me."

23Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?

23So a story spread among the believers that this follower would not die. But Jesus had not said that. He only said, "If I want him to stay until I come, how does that concern you?"

24This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.

24This is the follower who tells about these things and wrote them down. And we know that what he says is true.

25And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

25Jesus did many other things too. If every one of them were written down, I think the whole world could not hold the books. Amen.