31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jefus is the Chrift the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through his furrection and of his Divine Power, 31. But these which are fet down, name. CHA P. XXI. Jefus appears again to feveral Disciples at the Lake of Tiberias, ver. 1. Charges Peter to feed his Sheep, ver. 15. Foretells Peter's Death, ver. 18. And John's long Life, ver. zo. The Occafion of a falfe Expectation concerning the Life of John, ver. 23. 1. AF * Matt. FTER this the Apostles retired, as Jefus had directed them, from Jerufalem into Galilee. And xxviii. 10. there he appeared again to fome of them at the Lake of Tiberias, upon the following Occafion. 2&3. Peter, and Thomas, and Nathanael, and James, and John, and Two other Difciples, being together; Peter proposed to them, to go a Fishing. To which they all agreeing, took a Boat and went upon the Lake; and there they laboured all Night, without catching any thing at all. 45. Whereupon Jefus, early in the Morning, knowing it to be a fit Opportunity of Difcovering himfelf to them, and of giving them (as formerly upon like Occafions he had Ii 3 ufed ufed to do) fome Inftructions about The 6. Then faid Jefus : If you caft your Net now on the Right fide of the Boat, you will find fome. The Apoftles, readily complying with his Directions, as being willing to try all Places, and loth to go home without catching any thing; caft their Net, and inclosed therein immediately fuch a vaft Multitude of Fishes, that they were not able to draw it up to them into the Boat, but were forced to drag it along after them in the Water towards the Shore. By which vaft Plen*SeeMatt. ty, it was in a lively manner iv. 19. V. ver. & 10. * represented to them the great Succefs and Efficacy of their future Ministry, in converting and bringing Men to the Belief of the Gofpel. 7. At the Sight of this great Miracle, John, confidering with himself in what Manner it was effected, and how See Luke he had formerly + been prefent at a 6. like ftrange and wonderful Draught of Fifhes; faid to Peter: Certainly this must be the Lord. Whereupon Peter, eager to go to Jefus without Delay, got on his Fifhers-Coat, and leaped prefently out of the Boat into the Water to get to Shore. 8. But the rest of the Disciples came in the Boat, dragging the Net full of Fish after them; For they were not above a Furlong off from the Shore. 7 Therefore that difciple whom Jefus loved, faith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt bis fifhers coat unto him, (for he was naked) and did caft himself into the fea. 8 And the other difciple came in a little fhip (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits) dragging the net with fishes 9 Affoon 9 Affoon then as they were come to land, they faw a fire of coals there, and fifh laid thereon and bread. 10 Jefus faith unto them, Bring of the fish, which ye have now caught. II Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three; and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. 12 Jefus faith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durft afk him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jefus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fifh likewise. 14 This is now the third time that Jefus fhewed himfelf to his difciples, after that he was rifen from the dead. 9. Now affoon as they were landed, they faw a Fire of Coals ready made, and Fish broiling upon it, and Bread lying by. 10. And Jefus bid them bring fome of the Fifh that they had now taken, and drefs That alfo upon the Fire for them to eat. II. Then Peter went and drew the Net to Land, full of great Fishes, an Hundred Fifty and Three. And though they were so many and so great, yet was not the Net rent. 12 & 13. Taking out therefore fome of the Fifh, they broiled them upon the Coals, and did eat; Jefus himself, as Mafter of the Feaft, diftributing amongst them both the Fifh and the Bread. Yet in all this Time, not one of them dared to afk him, Who He was; well knowing, both by the Miracle, and by his whole Behaviour, that it could be no other than Jefus. 14. This was the third time that Jefus appeared publickly to a great Number of his Difciples together, befides his fhowing himself at several Times to particular Perfons upon fpecial Occafions. * As, to Mary Magdalene, and to the Two difciples going to Em maus, &c. as 15. Now when they had eaten much as fufficed them; Jefus, to remind Peter how diligent and zealous he ought to be after his Three-fold Denial, faid to him: Simon, Son of Jonas, art thou more zealous and affectionate in thy Love towards me, than the reft of these my Difciples? Peter anfwered: Yea, Lord; Thou knoweft that I love Thee. Jefus replied: Exprefs thy Love towards me, by thy Care of my Flock committed to thy Charge. 16. Again, he afked him the fecond time: Simon, Son of Jonas, Art thou zealous and affectionate in thy Love towards me? Peter anfwer ed: Yea, Lord, Thou knoweft that I love Thee. Jefus replied: Express then thy Love towards me, by thy Care of my Flock committed to thy Charge. 17. Again the third time, He asked him in the fame Words: Simon, Son of Jonas, Art thou zealous and affectionate in thy Love towards me ? Peter, grieved that Jefus, as if he fufpected his Sincerity, fhould afk him Three times together the fame Queftion, anfwered; Yea, Lord; Thou that knowest all Things, well knoweft how much I love Thee. Jefus replied: Exprefs then thy Love towards me, by thy Care of my Flock committed to thy Charge 15 So when they had dined, Jesus faith to Simon Peter, Simon fon of Jonas loveft thou me more than these? He faith unto him, Yea, Lord: thou knowest that I love thee. He faith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He faith to him again the fecond time, Simon Son of Jonas, loveft thou me? He faith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee._ He faith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He faith unto him the third time, Simon fon of Jonas, loveft thou me ? Pe ter was grieved, behim, the third time, Loveft thou cause he faid unto me? And he faid unto him, Lord, thou knoweft all things; thou knoweft that I Jefus faith unto him, Feed my sheep. love thee. 18 Verily, verily, I fay unto thee, When thou waft 18. And verily, continued Jefus, I know thou wilt do fo, even unto Death. For the Time will come, *Girt when thou, who now * girtedft thy felf voluntarily, and stretchedft out walkedft fhalt in thy Hands to come to me; Coat, and thine Old Age be girt by others, on his Fishers Jam to Jefus, v.7. young, Thou girdedit thy felf, and whither thou a very ing cruciSake of fied. my Re thou wouldst but and forced to ** Stretch out thy · old, thou fhall ftretch forth thy hands, and another fhall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldst not. 19 This fpake he, fignifying by what death he fhould glorifie God. And when he had spoken this, he faith unto him, Follow me. 20 Then Peter turning about, feeth the difciple whom Jefus loved, follow ing; which alfo leaned on his breaft at fupper, and faid, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? 21 Peter feeing him, faith to Jefus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Profeffion of 19. By which laft Words, Jefus fignified the ++ Manner of Peter's ++ Viz. Death, and how he fhould finally Crucifixi fuffer Martyrdom for the Glory of on. God, and for the Teftimony of the Truth of the Religion of Chrift. And having thus spoken, he faid to Peter; Follow me. : ver. 25. 20 & 21. Now as they were going; Peter, looking behind him, and feeing that † That Difciple alfo +St.John. followed, whom Jefus loved, and who leaning on Jefus's Breaft at their laft Pafchal Supper, had afkt Jefus, * * Ch. xiii. Who it was that should betray Him Peter, I fay, feeing That Difciple following alfo with him, and having a Curiofity to know what should become of that Difciple, as well as Jefus had told him what should happen to himfelf; afked Jefus, faying: And what fhall become of this Man, Lord? 22. Jefus replied: If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me. 23. This ambiguous Answer of Jefus, gave an Occafion to the fpreading of an Opinion among the Believers, that That Difciple should not die, but continue alive till Chrift's final Coming to Judgment. But that Opinion was erroneous, and without juft Ground. For Jefus did not fay, He shall not die: But only; |