“As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.”
John 21:9 — Greek Interlinear
Church Fathers on John 21:9
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.
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.
The Evangelist, after his wont, first states the thing itself, and then says how it took place: And on this wise showed He Himself.