John 21

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. His followers were the friends who learned from him. This happened by the Sea of Tiberias. Here is how it went.

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, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, and Zebedee's two sons were together. Two other followers were with them.

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 got into the boat right away. All that night they caught nothing.

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

4Early in the morning, Jesus stood 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?" They answered, "No."

NoteThe KJV word "meat" meant any kind of food, not just animal meat. Here Jesus is asking if 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. Then you will find some." They threw the net out. So many fish went in that they could not pull it up.

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.

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

Note"Naked" here does not mean Peter had no clothes on. He had taken off his outer coat to work, and he put it back on.

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 not far from land, only about a hundred yards.

Note"Two hundred cubits" is an old way of measuring. It is about a hundred yards, or the length of a football field.

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

9When they got to land, they saw a fire of hot coals. Fish were cooking on it, and there was 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 went and pulled the net onto the land. It was full of big fish, 153 of them. Even with so many, the net did not tear.

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." No one dared to 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 and took the bread and gave it to them. He gave them the fish too.

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. It was 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 spoke to Simon Peter. He said, "Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me more than these do?" Peter said, "Yes, Lord. You know that 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.

16Jesus asked a second time, "Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me?" Peter said, "Yes, Lord. You know that 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.

17Jesus asked a third time, "Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me?" Peter felt hurt that Jesus asked him three times. He said, "Lord, you know everything. You know that 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. You walked wherever you wanted. When you are old, you will stretch out your hands. Someone else will dress you. He will 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 it would bring honor to God. Then Jesus 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 around and saw the follower Jesus loved walking behind them. At the supper, this man had leaned close to Jesus. He had 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 said, "If I want him to stay here until I come back, that is not your concern. 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 people who believed began to say that this follower would not die. But Jesus did not say he would not die. He said, "If I want him to stay until I come, what is that to 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. He is the one who 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.