XII. JESUS 'SHOWS HIMSELF ΤΟ FIVE APOSTLES AND TWO DISCIPLES IN GALILEE, AT THE LAKE OF TIBERIAS.-REMARKABLE CONVERSATION WITH PETER AND JOHN.-EXPLANATION OF AN ORDINARY MISREPRESENTATION' OF WHAT

JESUS SAID.

[Note.-John brings forward here a history, which is not to be met with in the other Evangelists, but which is in strict conformity with the object with which he wrote the gospel. There was probably, however, another reason which induced him to write this appendix. In consequence of the words of Jesus, stated by John, and which words have been much misunderstood, a report was current amongst the disciples, that John was not to die, and that he had been promised this by Jesus. This report was more likely to gain credit, as John actually reached a very advanced age, and even after his death this belief was current in the minds of many of the followers of Christ. John knew that he should die, like other men: if he had not, therefore, at an early period, obviated this

feeling, his death, whenever it took place, would have been highly injurious to Christianity; it would have excited the ridicule of Jews and Pagans; it would have rendered Christians wavering, and even seceders from the religion, the founder of which had promised immortality in vain. John could not act more wisely than by an early contradiction of this report, which he does in his own way, first, by detailing the whole history; secondly, by adding that he who was the author of the book in which his name is so often mentioned, was, at the same time, an eye-witness to the truth which it contained.]

JOHN XXI.

1. "After these things, Jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias, and in this wise showed he himself.

2. "There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas, called Didymus, and Nathanael, of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.

3. "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.

4. "But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

5. "Then saith Jesus unto them, Children, have ye any meat? they answered him, No.

6. "And he said unto them, cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

7. "Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved, saith unto Peter, it is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

8. "And the other disciples came in a little ship, (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.

9. "As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.

10. "Jesus saith unto them, bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

11. "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. "Jesus saith, Come and dine, and none of

the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.

13. "Jesus then cometh and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.

14. "This is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

15. "So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee; He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

16. "He saith unto him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee, He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

17." He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? and he said unto him, Lord thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

18. "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, when thou wast young thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest; but when thou shalt be old thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee, whither thou wouldest not.

19. "This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God; and when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, follow me.

20. "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?

21. Peter, seeing him, saith to Jesus, Lord and what shall this man do?

22. "Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

23. "Then went this saying abroad amongst the brethren, that that disciple should not die; yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die: but, if I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?

24. "This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.

25. “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen."

Hugo Grotius thought that the whole of this chapter was not from the hand of John, but