John 21:13

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

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(13) Jesus then cometh—i.e., from the place where they had seen Him to the “fire of coals.”

And taketh bread, and giveth them.—Better, . . . the bread—i.e., the bread of John 21:9. Again (comp. John 20:22) we are reminded of the words used at the Last Supper. (Comp. Note on Luke 24:30.)

And fish likewise.—Better, and the fish likewise—i.e., the fishes of John 21:9-10.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

21:1-14 Christ makes himself known to his people, usually in his ordinances; but sometimes by his Spirit he visits them when employed in their business. It is good for the disciples of Christ to be together in common conversation, and common business. The hour for their entering upon action was not come. They would help to maintain themselves, and not be burdensome to any. Christ's time of making himself known to his people, is when they are most at a loss. He knows the temporal wants of his people, and has promised them not only grace sufficient, but food convenient. Divine Providence extends itself to things most minute, and those are happy who acknowledge God in all their ways. Those who are humble, diligent, and patient, though their labours may be crossed, shall be crowned; they sometimes live to see their affairs take a happy turn, after many struggles. And there is nothing lost by observing Christ's orders; it is casting the net on the right side of the ship. Jesus manifests himself to his people by doing that for them which none else can do, and things which they looked not for. He would take care that those who left all for him, should not want any good thing. And latter favours are to bring to mind former favours, that eaten bread may not be forgotten. He whom Jesus loved was the first that said, It is the Lord. John had cleaved most closely to his Master in his sufferings, and knew him soonest. Peter was the most zealous, and reached Christ the first. How variously God dispenses his gifts, and what difference there may be between some believers and others in the way of their honouring Christ, yet they all may be accepted of him! Others continue in the ship, drag the net, and bring the fish to shore, and such persons ought not to be blamed as worldly; for they, in their places, are as truly serving Christ as the others. The Lord Jesus had provision ready for them. We need not be curious in inquiring whence this came; but we may be comforted at Christ's care for his disciples. Although there were so many, and such great fishes, yet they lost none, nor damaged their net. The net of the gospel has enclosed multitudes, yet it is as strong as ever to bring souls to God.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread ... - It is not said that Jesus himself ate with them, but he gave them food. The design of this interview seems to have been to convince them that he had truly risen from the dead. Hence, he performed a miracle before they suspected that it was he, that there might be no room to say that they had ascribed to him the power of the miracle through friendship and collusion with him. The miracle was such as to satisfy them of its truth, and was, in accordance with all his works, not for mere display, but for utility. He remained with them, was with them at their meal, conversed with them, and thus convinced them that he was the same Friend who had died.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

13. Jesus … taketh bread—the bread.

and giveth them, and the fish likewise—(See on [1928]Lu 24:30).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Those who question whether our Saviour himself did eat, seem not to consider what is written Acts 10:41, where it is expressly said, he did eat and drink with them after he rose from the dead; which he doubtless did, to show that he was truly risen from the dead, and his seeming body was not a phantasm, and mere apparition of a body, but the same true body which was crucified, though now more glorious, and not clothed with those infirmities which it had before his death; from whence it only followeth, that he did not eat to satisfy his hunger, but only to confirm the truth of his resurrection. He did before this eat with some of them, Luke 24:30.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Jesus then cometh and taketh bread,.... After they had taken the fish out of the net, and all was prepared for the meal, and the disciples were set down to eat, Christ came and took his place as the master of the feast, and head of the family; and taking up the bread, as was his usual method, he asked a blessing over it, and gave thanks for it. Beza's ancient copy, and one of Stephens's read, "and having given thanks he gave", &c. which is agreeably to his usual practice at meals.

And giveth them, and fish likewise; he distributed both bread and fish to his disciples. So, in a spiritual sense, he provides plentifully for his people; gives them to eat of the hidden manna, and tree of life, and leads to fountains of living waters; encourages them to eat and drink freely, what is of his own preparing, and at his own expense provided for them.

Geneva Study Bible

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

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

John 21:13. When they had gathered round the fire, ἔρχεται … ὁμοίως. “Jesus approaches and takes the bread and gives to them, and the fish” (used here collectively) “in like manner.” Evidently there was something solemn and significant in His manner, indicating that they were to consider Him as the Person who supplied all their wants. If they were to be free from care as His Apostles, they must trust Him to make provision for them, as He had this morning done.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

13. Jesus then cometh] Omit ‘then.’ They are afraid to approach, so He comes to them. ‘Bread’ and ‘fish’ are in the singular, as in John 21:9, but with the definite article, which points back to John 21:9; ‘the bread’ and ‘the fish’ which had been mentioned before. Of course this is not the fish that had just been caught, and nothing is told us as to how it was provided. The food is a gift from the Lord to His disciples.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 13. - Jesus cometh, and taketh the bread, and giveth them, and the fish likewise. It would seem that the specific bread and fish already referred to (ver. 9) was the material of at least the first part of this sacramental meal No benediction or prayer is mentioned. If this may not be presupposed, his presence made the feast, and was the blessing. Meyer says, however, that ἄρτον and ὀψάριον, as in earlier verses, are simply generic. On either supposition, it is clear from ver. 15 that more fish were prepared and used by the seven disciples than the solitary loaf and ὀψάριον which were first seen upon the fire. The Lord gave them symbolically the entire gift of his love by that which he came forward at this moment to supply. John 21:13

Vincent's Word Studies

Bread - fish

Both have the article - the loaf, the fish - apparently pointing to the provision which Jesus himself had made.

Giveth them

Nothing is said of His partaking Himself. Compare Luke 24:42, Luke 24:43.