John 21:14

14 This was now the third time^[a] Jesus appeared^[b] to the disciples after He was raised from the dead.

John 21:14 Meaning and Commentary

John 21:14

This is now the third time
Or day of Christ's appearance to his disciples: he appeared to them first on the same day he rose, and then a second time eight days after, or that day a week later, and now at the sea of Tiberias; for within this compass of time he had made more appearances than three, though to particular persons, and not to such a number of the disciples as at these three times:

that Jesus showed himself to his disciples after that he was risen
from the dead:
and thus, as by the mouth of two or three witnesses, everything is established; so by these three principal appearances of Christ to his disciples, his resurrection from the dead was confirmed.

John 21:14 In-Context

12 "Come and have breakfast," Jesus told them. None of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are You?" because they knew it was the Lord.

13 Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish.

14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples after He was raised from the dead.

15 When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love , the first 2 times by Jesus (vv. 15-16 ); and phileo , the last time by Jesus (v. 17 ) and all 3 times by Peter (vv. 15-17 ). Peter's threefold confession of love for Jesus corresponds to his earlier threefold denial of Jesus; Jn 18:15-18 , 25-27 . Me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said to Him, "You know that I love You." "Feed My lambs," He told him.

16 A second time He asked him, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" "Yes, Lord," he said to Him, "You know that I love You." "Shepherd My sheep," He told him.

Footnotes

• [a]. The other two are in Jn 20:19-29.
• [b]. Lit was revealed (see v. 1)