John 21:3 — Community Reflections

JOHN 21:3 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“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.”

Simon Peter said to them, 'I am going fishing.' They said to him, 'We will go with you.' They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing — Peter's return to fishing suggests the disciples have reverted to their pre-calling occupations, indicating post-resurrection confusion about vocation. The night setting (similar to 20:19) suggests spiritual darkness or uncertainty. The catch of nothing mirrors human futility without Christ; the narrative sets up the miracle catch as restoration.

Church Fathers on John 21:3

The preceding words of the Evangelist seem to indicate the end of the book, but He goes on farther to give an account of our Lord’s appearance by the sea of Tiberias: After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias.
Augustine · 4th century

He says, Afterwards, because He did not go continually with His disciples as before; and, manifested Himself, because His body being incorruptible, it was a condescension to allow Himself to be seen. He mentions the place, to show that our Lord had taken away a good deal of their fear, and that they no longer kept within doors, though they had gone to Galilee to avoid the persecution of the Jews.
Chrysostom · 4th century

The Evangelist, after his wont, first states the thing itself, and then says how it took place: And on this wise showed He Himself.
Bede · 8th century

Read all 26 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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