John 21:20 — Community Reflections

JOHN 21:20 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“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?”

Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; he was the one who had reclined next to Jesus at the supper and had asked, 'Lord, who is going to betray you?' — Peter's turning (strepho) to notice the beloved disciple shifts focus from Peter's restoration to the beloved disciple's presence. The description (reclining at supper, asking about betrayal) anchors the beloved disciple in the Last Supper narrative and identifies him as the narrative's primary insider-witness.

Church Fathers on John 21:20

Our Lord having foretold to Peter by what hat death he should glorify God, bids him follow Him. And when He had spoken this, He says to him, Follow Me. Why does He say, Follow Me, to Peter, and not to the others who were present, who as disciples were following their Master? Or if we understand it of his martyrdom, was Peter the only one who died for the Christian truth? Was not James put to death by Herod? Some one will say that James was not crucified, and that this was…
Augustine · 4th century

Peter hearing that he was to suffer death for Christ, asks whether John was to die: Then Peter, turning about, sees the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on His breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrays you? Peter seeing him says to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
Theophylact · 11th century

I will that he tarry, i.e. I will not that he suffer martyrdom, but wait for the quiet dissolution of the flesh, when I shall come and receive him into eternal blessedness.
Gloss (Glossa Ordinaria) · medieval compilation

Read all 11 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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