☩The Four Gospelsa Digest & Chapter Register
Under the patronage of St Thomas More — The King's good servant, but God's first.
Table of Titles›Saint John›Chapter 21
JohnXXIChapter 21 of 21
153 fish; 'Feed my sheep'
The miraculous draught at the sea of Tiberias; 'Simon, lovest thou me?'; 'Feed my sheep'; the beloved disciple.
ArgumentChrist manifests himself to his disciples by the sea side and gives Peter the charge of his sheep.
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Passages cited from this chapter

✠John 21:15–17

'Feed my lambs... feed my sheep'

15When therefore they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs. 16He saith to him again: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He saith to him: yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs. 17He said to him the third time: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he had said to him the third time: Lovest thou me? And he said to him: Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee. He said to him: Feed my sheep.

Peter & the Church
John 21:25

'The world itself... would not be able to contain the books'

25But there are also many other things which Jesus did which, if they were written every one, the world itself. I think, would not be able to contain the books that should be written.

Sayings of Our Lord
The chapter entire — John 21, 25 verses
1After this, Jesus shewed himself to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. And he shewed himself after this manner.
2There were together: Simon Peter and Thomas, who is called Didymus, and Nathanael, who was of Cana of Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee and two others of his disciples.
3Simon Peter saith to them: I go a fishing. They say to him: We also come with thee. And they went forth and entered into the ship: and that night they caught nothing.
4But when the morning was come, Jesus stood on the shore: yet the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5Jesus therefore said to them: Children, have you any meat? They answered him: No.
6He saith to them: Cast the net on the right side of the ship; and you shall find. They cast therefore: and now they were not able to draw it, for the multitude of fishes.
7That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved said to Peter: It is the Lord. Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, girt his coat about him (for he was naked) and cast himself into the sea.
8But the other disciples came in the ship (for they were not far from the land, but as it were two hundred cubits) dragging the net with fishes.
9As soon then as they came to land they saw hot coals lying, and a fish laid thereon, and bread.
10Jesus saith to them: Bring hither of the fishes which you have now caught.
11Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, one hundred and fifty-three. And although there were so many, the net was not broken.
12Jesus saith to them: Come and dine. And none of them who were at meat, durst ask him: Who art thou? Knowing that it was the Lord.
13And Jesus cometh and taketh bread and giveth them: and fish in like manner.
14This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to his disciples, after he was risen from the dead.
15When therefore they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs.
16He saith to him again: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He saith to him: yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs.
17He said to him the third time: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he had said to him the third time: Lovest thou me? And he said to him: Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee. He said to him: Feed my sheep.
Feed my sheep... Our Lord had promised the spiritual supremacy to St. Peter; St. Matt. 16. 19; and here he fulfils that promise, by charging him with the superintendency of all his sheep, without exception; and consequently of his whole flock, that is, of his own church.
18Amen, amen, I say to thee, When thou wast younger, thou didst gird thyself and didst walk where thou wouldst. But when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee and lead thee whither thou wouldst not.
19And this he said, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had said this, he saith to him: Follow me.
20Peter turning about, saw that disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also leaned on his breast at supper and said: Lord, who is he that shall betray thee?
21Him therefore when Peter had seen, he saith to Jesus: Lord, and what shall this man do?
22Jesus saith to him: So I will have him to remain till I come, what is it to thee? Follow thou me.
23This saying therefore went abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die. And Jesus did not say to him: He should not die; but: So I will have him to remain till I come, what is it to thee?
24This is that disciple who giveth testimony of these things and hath written these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
25But there are also many other things which Jesus did which, if they were written every one, the world itself. I think, would not be able to contain the books that should be written.
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