John 21:15-19 is a passage from the 21st chapter of the Gospel of John. The verses describe a dialogue between Jesus and Simon Peter. Jesus asks Simon Peter three times if he loves him. Each time, Simon Peter replies that he does, and Jesus asks him to tend his flock. Jesus then tells Simon Peter the manner of his (Simon Peter's) death.

Text of the passage

In the original Greek, the passage is as follows:

16: λέγει αὐτῷ πάλιν δεύτερον, Σίμων Ἰωάννου, ἀγαπᾷς με; λέγει αὐτῷ, Ναὶ κύριε, σὺ οἶδας ὅτι φιλῶ σε. λέγει αὐτῷ, Ποίμαινε τὰ πρόβατά μου.

17: λέγει αὐτῷ τὸ τρίτον, Σίμων Ἰωάννου, φιλεῖς με; ἐλυπήθη ὁ Πέτρος ὅτι εἶπεν αὐτῷ τὸ τρίτον, Φιλεῖς με; καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ, Κύριε, πάντα σὺ οἶδας, σὺ γινώσκεις ὅτι φιλῶ σε. λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Βόσκε τὰ πρόβατά μου.

18: ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω σοι, ὅτε ἦς νεώτερος, ἐζώννυες σεαυτὸν καὶ περιεπάτεις ὅπου ἤθελες· ὅταν δὲ γηράσῃς, ἐκτενεῖς τὰς χεῖράς σου, καὶ ἄλλος σε ζώσει καὶ οἴσει ὅπου οὐ θέλεις.

19: τοῦτο δὲ εἶπεν σημαίνων ποίῳ θανάτῳ δοξάσει τὸν θεόν. καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν λέγει αὐτῷ, Ἀκολούθει μοι.

In the King James Version, the passage is as follows:

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 to 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.

In the World English Bible, the passage is as follows:

15: So when they had eaten their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?"

He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you."

He said to him, "Feed my lambs."

16: He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?"

He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you."

He said to him, "Tend my sheep."

17: He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you have affection for me?"

Peter was grieved because he asked him the third time, "Do you have affection for me?" He said to him, "Lord, you know everything. You know that I have affection for you."

Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.

18: Most certainly I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself, and walked where you wanted to. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you, and carry you where you don't want to go."

19:Now he said this, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. When he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me."

Analysis and commentary

In verses 15 through 17, the author of John 21 was likely signifying Jesus' confirmation of Peter as leader of his church. Unlike the synoptic gospels, this passage is the only such passage in John.

Verse 18, as the author explicitly states, likely describes the crucifixion and death of Simon Peter. As the verse was most likely written after the death of Simon Peter, this verse is likely the oldest evidence that he was executed in Rome during the reign of the emperor Nero.

Usage

These verses are used as the Gospel reading at the funerals of Popes, as described in the Vatican's book of liturgical celebrations. They were read at the funeral of Pope John Paul II on April 8, 2005.

References

• World English Bible website
• King James Version text