John 21:3
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Simon Peter told them, “I am going fishing.” “We will go with you,” they said. So they went out and got into the boat, but caught nothing that night.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing--(See on Luk 5:11). that night . . . caught nothing--as at the first miraculous draught (see on Luk 5:5); no doubt so ordered that the miracle might strike them the more by contrast. The same principle is seen in operation throughout much of Christ's ministry, and is indeed a great law of God's spiritual procedure with His people.
Open source ↗The evangelist seemed to have concluded his history with the foregoing chapter; but (as St. Paul sometimes in his epistles), new matter occurring, he begins again. He had said that there were many other signs which Jesus did for the proof of his resurrection. And in this chapter he mentions one of these many, which was Christ's appearance to some of his disciples at the sea of Tiberias, in which we have an account, I. How he discovered himself to them as they were fishing, filled their net, and then very familiarly came and dined with them upon what they had caught (Joh 21:1-14). II. What discourse he had with Peter after dinner, 1. Concerning himself (Joh 21:15-19). 2. Concerning John (Joh 21:20-23). III. The solemn conclusion of this gospel (Joh 21:24, Joh 21:25). It is strange that any should suppose that this chapter was added by some other hand, when it is expressly said (Joh 21:24) that the disciple whom Jesus loved is he which testifieth of these things.
Open source ↗21:3 Fishing was usually successful in the early hours of the morning. However, this trip was useless and they caught nothing all night.
Open source ↗Cross-references
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“Master,” Simon replied, “we have worked hard all night without catching anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.”
Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was.
You yourselves know that these hands of mine have ministered to my own needs and those of my companions.
Or are Barnabas and I the only apostles who must work for a living?