Peter

36Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered him, "You cannot follow me there now. But you will follow me later."

Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.

37Peter said to him, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I would even die for you."

Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.

38Jesus answered him, "Would you really die for me? I tell you the truth. Before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you do not know me."

Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.

NoteRoosters crow very early, when it is still almost dark. Jesus meant this would happen before morning came.

1Jesus finished speaking. Then he went out with his followers. They crossed a small stream called Cedron. A garden was there, and they went into it.

When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.

NoteThe Cedron was a small stream in a valley just outside the city. The garden was a grove of olive trees. Jesus and his friends went there often.

2Judas was the one who planned to hand Jesus over. He knew this place, because Jesus often met there with his followers.

And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.

NoteJudas was one of the twelve closest followers of Jesus. He had already agreed to show the leaders where to find him.

3Judas brought a group of soldiers and temple guards. The chief priests, the top leaders at the temple, and the Pharisees, a strict religious group, had sent them. They came with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

NoteThe temple was the great building in Jerusalem where Jews worshiped God. Priests worked there, and guards kept order in it. The soldiers here were Roman soldiers, sent by the men who ruled the land.

4Jesus knew everything that was about to happen to him. He stepped toward them and asked, "Who are you looking for?"

Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

5They said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said, "I am he." Judas, who handed him over, was standing there with them.

They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.

NoteNazareth was the small town where Jesus grew up. People were often named after their hometown.

6As soon as Jesus said, "I am he," they stepped back and fell to the ground.

As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

7So Jesus asked them again, "Who are you looking for?" They said, "Jesus of Nazareth."

Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.

8Jesus answered, "I already told you that I am he. So if you want me, let these men go."

Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:

9This made his own words come true. He had said, "I have not lost one of the people you gave me."

That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

10Simon Peter had a sword. He pulled it out and struck a servant of the high priest, the top priest at the temple. He cut off the servant's right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.

Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.

NoteA high priest was the leader of all the priests. Priests were the men who led worship at the temple. His servants worked in his house.

11Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword away. My Father has handed me a cup to drink. Should I not drink it?"

Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

NoteA "cup" was a way of speaking. A person's cup meant whatever they had to go through. Jesus meant the hard things coming to him.

15Simon Peter followed Jesus. Another follower came along too. That follower was known to the high priest. So he went with Jesus into the yard of the high priest's house.

And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.

NoteA high priest's house was built around an open yard. Servants and guards could stand in that yard.

16But Peter stayed outside at the door. The other follower, who was known to the high priest, went out. He spoke to the girl watching the door and brought Peter inside.

But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.

17The servant girl at the door said to Peter, "Aren't you one of this man's followers too?" Peter said, "I am not."

Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man’s disciples? He saith, I am not.

NotePeter was saying he did not know Jesus at all. He was afraid of being taken away too.

18It was cold. The servants and guards had made a fire and stood around it to get warm. Peter stood with them and warmed himself too.

And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.

NoteThe fire was made of glowing coals, not big logs. Spring nights in Jerusalem were cold.

25Simon Peter was still standing by the fire, keeping warm. They asked him, "Aren't you one of his followers too?" He said no. "I am not," he said.

And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.

26One of the high priest's servants was a relative of the man whose ear Peter cut off. He said, "Didn't I see you in the garden with him?"

One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?

27Peter said no again. Right then a rooster crowed.

Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.

NoteRoosters crow when the sky first starts to grow light. So the sound told everyone that morning had come. Jesus had told Peter earlier that this would happen.

1It was the first day of the week. Very early, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been rolled away from it.

The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

NoteA tomb was a small room cut into rock. A dead body was laid inside it. A big round stone was rolled across the doorway. Magdalene means Mary came from a town called Magdala. The first day of the week was our Sunday.

2So she ran to Simon Peter and to the other follower, the one Jesus loved. She said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb. We do not know where they put him."

Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the LORD out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

NoteSimon Peter and Peter are the same man. He had two names, like a nickname.

3So Peter and that other follower started out for the tomb.

Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.

4Both men ran together. The other follower ran faster than Peter and got there first.

So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

5He bent down and looked in. He saw the linen cloths lying there. But he did not go inside.

And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

NoteLinen is a smooth, strong cloth. A dead body was wrapped in long linen strips before burial.

6Then Simon Peter came up behind him. He went right into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there.

Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

7The cloth that had been around Jesus' head was not with them. It was rolled up in a place by itself.

And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

8Then the other follower went in too, the one who got there first. He saw, and he believed.

Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

9Until then they had not understood what the Scriptures said. God's book said that Jesus had to rise from the dead.

For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

NoteThe Scriptures are the holy writings of God's people. They were written long before Jesus was born.

10Then the two followers went back to their homes.

Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

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

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

NoteThe Sea of Tiberias is a big lake in the land of Galilee. It is also called the Sea of Galilee. Many people caught fish there for their work. His followers were the people who learned from him.

2Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, and Zebedee's sons were together. Two other followers were with them.

There 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.

NoteDidymus means "twin." It was a second name for Thomas. Zebedee's sons were two brothers named James and John.

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.

Simon 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.

NoteFishermen often worked all night, because night was a good time to catch fish. They dropped big nets into the water from the boat.

4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore. But his followers did not know it was Jesus.

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

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

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

Note"Children" here is a warm word, like saying "boys" or "friends." Jesus was speaking to grown men he knew well.

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.

And 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.

7The follower Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Peter heard that, he pulled on his coat, because he had nothing on. Then he jumped into the water.

Therefore 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.

NoteThe man who wrote this book calls himself "the follower Jesus loved." He never writes his own name. Men took their coats off to work in a boat. Peter pulled his coat back on before he jumped in.

8The other followers came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish. They were not far from land, only about a hundred yards.

And 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.

NoteThe King James says "two hundred cubits." A cubit was the length of a grown-up's arm, from the elbow to the fingertips.

9When they got to land, they saw a fire of hot coals. Fish were laid on it, and there was bread.

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

NoteCoals are pieces of wood that have burned down. They stay hot for a long time. People cooked food on them.

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

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

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.

Simon 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.

12Jesus said, "Come and eat." No one dared to ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.

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

13Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them. He gave them the fish too.

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

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

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

NoteJesus had died a few days before this. Then he came back to life. This was the third time his friends saw him after that.

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."

So 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.

NotePeople were often named after their father, like "Simon, son of Jonas." Lambs are baby sheep. A shepherd feeds sheep and keeps them safe. Jesus is asking Peter to look after people that way.

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."

He 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.

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."

He 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.

NoteEarlier, Peter had said three times that he did not know Jesus. Now Jesus asks him three times if he loves him.

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."

Verily, 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.

NotePeople wore long clothes tied with a belt. Dressing yourself meant you were strong and could go where you liked. Stretching out your hands was a way of saying a person was tied up and led away.

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."

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

NoteTo bring honor to God means to help other people see how great God is.

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?"

Then 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?

NoteAt meals, people lay on their sides on cushions around a low table. So it was easy to lean close and whisper. "Hand you over" means showing Jesus' enemies where to find him.

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

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

22Jesus said, "If I want him to stay here until I come back, that is not your concern. You follow me."

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

NoteJesus meant the day when he would come back to the world again.

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?"

Then 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?

15About a hundred and twenty followers were gathered in those days. Peter stood up in the middle of them and spoke.

And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

NotePeter was one of Jesus's closest friends. He often spoke for the rest of the apostles.

16He said, "Brothers, the words in the Scriptures had to come true. Long ago the Holy Spirit spoke through David about Judas. Judas led the men who came and arrested Jesus."

Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

NoteThe Scriptures are the holy books the Jewish people read. David was a king long ago. He wrote many songs and prayers to God. Judas was one of the twelve apostles. He showed Jesus's enemies where to find him.

17"Judas was counted as one of us. He shared in this work with us."

For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.

18Judas was paid money for the wrong he did. That money bought a field. There he fell headfirst. His body broke open, and everything inside spilled out.

Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

NoteThe King James says "all his bowels gushed out." Bowels means the parts inside a person's body.

19Everyone living in Jerusalem heard what happened. So in their own language they called that field Akeldama. That name means Field of Blood.

And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.

NoteThe language people spoke every day in Jerusalem was called Aramaic. Akeldama is an Aramaic word.

20Peter said, "The book of Psalms says, 'Let his home be empty. Let no one live in it.' It also says, 'Let someone else take his job.'"

For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.

NotePsalms is a book of songs and prayers in the Bible. The King James says "his bishoprick." That old word just means his job or his place.

21"So we must choose one of the men who were always with us. They stayed with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went about among us."

Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

22He must have been with us from when John was baptizing until the day Jesus was taken up. He must help us tell people that Jesus came back to life.

Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

23So they picked out two men. One was Joseph, called Barsabbas, who was also named Justus. The other was Matthias.

And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

NotePeople often had more than one name back then. This man was called Joseph, and also Barsabbas, and also Justus.

24Then they prayed, "Lord, you know what is inside every person's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen."

And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

25"Show us who should do this work as an apostle. Judas did wrong and left this place, and went to his own place."

That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

26Then they drew lots to decide. The lot chose Matthias. So he was counted with the other eleven apostles.

And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

NoteDrawing lots was a bit like drawing straws. People used small stones or sticks to pick one person. They believed God decided which one came out. Eleven apostles were left after Judas was gone.