John 21:2, commentary and pictures

There were together seven disciples: Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. They were together in Galilee by the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias, in a place where they were not likely to be disturbed. Their gathering was after Jesus' death and resurrection, after the Passover week in Jerusalem had ended, and they had gone there to meet Jesus as He had directed.

They had stayed in Jerusalem during the feast because absence would have been taken as disaffection and heresy, where Jesus twice met them in the upper chamber and told them to tarry at Jerusalem for a time, and as soon as the Passover finished they left Jerusalem for Galilee. They went in obedience to Jesus' word before His death that after He was risen He would go before them into Galilee, repeated by the angel at the sepulcher on the resurrection morning. Much of Christ's ministry had been passed near that sea, so as they gathered there they were surrounded by reminders of Jesus and His mighty works, and their minds were full of the words and deeds of their Saviour. On that sea Jesus had walked upon the waves to rescue them when terror filled their hearts in a fierce storm hurrying them to destruction, and there the tempest had been hushed by His word. Within sight was the beach where more than ten thousand persons had been fed from a few small loaves and fishes, and not far distant was Capernaum, the scene of many miracles. While together they talked about Jesus and recalled what they had witnessed nearby, wondering sadly about their future.

They were poor fishermen in the humble garb of fishermen, poor in worldly goods, but rich in the knowledge and practice of the truth, which gave them in heaven's sight the highest rank as teachers. Though they had not studied in the schools of the prophets, three years of lessons from Christ as the greatest educator the world has ever known had made them elevated, intelligent, and refined, fit mediums through which souls might be led to a knowledge of the truth. Being poor and needing food and clothing, they returned to their former work when Peter proposed going fishing and the others agreed, but they caught nothing through the night.

Their gathering was the setting in which they witnessed the resurrected Jesus appear and provide for them in the miraculous catch, reminding them that He would care for them as they continued His work after losing His personal companionship. Their gathering belonged to the renewal of Christ's commission after His resurrection, and the miraculous catch that follows showed that His death did not end their duty to do His work. Their gathering provided the public setting for Peter's restoration before resuming his apostolic work as a shepherd of Christ's flock. Because Peter had represented the disciples and had denied Jesus three times, he must show his repentance and love before the disciples in order to regain their confidence.