John 21:15-25

Peter Is Restored Three Times

15 Now when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon [son] of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs!"

16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon [son] of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Shepherd my sheep!"

17 He said to him a third [time], "Simon [son] of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed because he said to him a third [time], "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything! You know that I love you!" Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep!

18 Truly, truly I say to you, when you were young, you tied [your clothes] around yourself and walked wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will tie you up and carry [you] where you do not want [to go].

19 (Now he said this to indicate by what kind of death he would glorify God.) And [after he] had said this, he said to him, "Follow me!"

Peter and the Other Disciple Jesus Loved

20 Peter turned [and] saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following [them] (who also leaned back on his chest at the dinner and said, "Lord, who is the one betraying you?")

21 So [when he] saw this one, Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, but what about this one?"

22 Jesus said to him, "If I want him to remain until I come, what [is that] to you? You follow me!"

23 So this saying went out to the brothers that that disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but "If I want him to remain until I come, what [is that] to you?"

A Concluding Word of Testimony

24 This is the disciple who is testifying about these [things], and who has written down these [things]. And we know that his testimony is true.

25 Now there are also many other [things] that Jesus did, which--if they were written down one after the other--I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written.