John 21:9

John 21:9-14 . As soon as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals — The effect of Christ’s wonder-working power; and fish laid thereon, and bread — Which also he had prepared by a miracle, that they might see how easily he could make provision for them, when they were destitute of the ordinary means of supply. We need not be curious in inquiring whence this fire, fish, and bread came, any more than whence the meat came which the ravens brought Elijah. He that could multiply the loaves and fishes that were, could make new ones if he pleased, or turn stones into bread, fish, or flesh. We may take comfort from this instance of Christ’s care of his disciples; persuaded he has wherewith to supply all our wants, and knows what things we have need of. It is especially encouraging to Christ’s ministers, whom he hath made fishers of men, to learn, by such an instance, that they may depend upon him who employs them to provide for them what he sees to be needful. Jesus saith, Bring of the fish ye have now caught — Christ gave this order either because the fish already broiling on the fire was not sufficient for the company, or rather, perhaps, to show them the reality and greatness of the miracle, by making them attend to the number and largeness of the fish which they had caught, and to the circumstance of the net’s not being broken.

Simon Peter went up, and — With the help of his brethren; drew the net to land — As Peter in the former instance had showed a more zealous affection to his Master’s person than any of them, so in this he showed a more ready obedience to his Master’s commands. Full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty and three — These were many more than they needed for their present supply; but they might sell them, and the money would serve to bear their expenses on their journey back to Jerusalem, whither they were shortly to return, and to support them while they waited there. And for all there were so many — And great fishes too; yet was not the net broken — So that they witnessed miracle upon miracle wrought for them. Jesus saith, Come and dine — Or, come and eat; for the word αριστησατε , here used, signifies sometimes to take meat in the morning, which is the meaning of it here. Dr. Doddridge reads, Come and refresh yourselves; and Bishop Pearce, Come and breakfast. “The ancients used regularly but two meals in a day; we use three. As of our three, dinner and supper have been regarded as the two principal, it has obtained, not only with us, but all over Europe, to call the first meal of the ancients by the first of these two, which is dinner; and the second by the latter, which is supper. It is the order which has fixed the names of these meals, and not the precise time of the day at which they were eaten, which is commonly variable.” — Campbell.

John 21:9 . Ὡς οὖν … ἄρτον . “When, then, they got out upon the land, they see a fire (or heap) of coals laid and fish laid thereon, and bread”; or, possibly, “a fish” and “a loaf,” but see John 21:13 . For ἀνθρακιά , see John 18:18 . The disciples were evidently surprised at this preparation.

They were come to land (ἀπέβησαν εἰς τὴν γῆν) Not of the arrival of the boat, but of the going ashore of the boatmen. Rev., therefore, correctly, they got out upon the land. A fire of coals Charcoal. See John 18:18. Fish (ὀψάριον) See on John 6:9. Bread (ἄρτον) Or, a loaf. See on Matthew 4:1; see on Matthew 7:9.

As to the question whence this fish came, there are three opinions: some think that our Saviour caught it out of the sea without a net, or by his power commanded it to come to his service; others think that the history is transposed, and this verse should in its true order come after the eleventh; but it is most probable that Christ by his Divine power created the fish, as well as the coals and the bread.

John 21:9 . Βλέπουσιν , they see ) unexpectedly. A miracle.— ὀψάριον , a small fish ) a single one.— ἄρτον , a loaf ) a single one: John 21:13 , “Jesus taketh the loaf ” [Engl. vers., ‘bread,’ loses the force of the article]. Jesus entertained His disciples at a feast: and with food, which would have been only enough for one guest, He fed them all.

9 . As soon as … they saw ] Better, When therefore … they see . a fire of coals ] See on John 18:18 : the word occurs only there and here in N.T. [10]. ‘There’ is literally laid . fish laid thereon, and bread ] Or possibly, a fish laid thereon and a loaf . But the singulars may be collectives as in the A. V. The word for fish ( opsarion ) is similar in meaning, though not in derivation, to the one used in John 21:5 . (See on John 6:9 .) In John 21:11 yet another word is used ( ichthus ), which means ‘fish’ generally, whether for eating or not.

(9) They saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. —In the original the tenses are present, describing the scene as it was impressed on the mind of the writer. They saw a fire of coals and fish lying thereon, and bread, or, perhaps,. . . . and a fish lying thereon, and a loaf. For “fire of coals” comp. Note on John 18:18. For the word rendered “fish,” comp. John 21:10; John 21:13, and Notes on John 6:9; John 6:11. In this passage and in John 21:13 only it occurs in the singular, but it seems clear that it may be collective, as our word “fish.”