Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what [shall] this man [do]?
Peter {G4074} seeing {G1492} him {G5126} saith {G3004} to Jesus {G2424}, Lord {G2962}, and {G1161} what {G5101} shall this man {G3778} do?
On seeing him, Kefa said to Yeshua, “Lord, what about him?”
When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
Peter therefore seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.
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Luke 13:23
¶ Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, -
Luke 13:24
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. -
Matthew 24:3
And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? -
Matthew 24:4
¶ And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. -
Acts 1:6
¶ When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? -
Acts 1:7
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
In John 21:21, we find the Apostle Peter, having just been reinstated by Jesus and given a prophetic glimpse into his own future, turning his attention to "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (traditionally John) and asking Jesus about his destiny. This verse captures a very human moment of curiosity, and perhaps comparison, immediately following a deeply personal and significant encounter with the resurrected Christ.
Context
This scene unfolds on the shores of the Sea of Tiberias (also known as the Sea of Galilee), where Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection. The immediate preceding verses recount Jesus' pivotal conversation with Peter, where He three times asked Peter if he loved Him, symbolically reinstating Peter after his three denials. Following Peter's affirmations of love, Jesus commanded him to "Feed my sheep" and "Feed my lambs". Jesus then prophesied Peter's future martyrdom, indicating by what death he would glorify God (John 21:19). It is in the wake of this profound and personal revelation that Peter, seeing John following, asks about his fate.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The KJV phrase "what [shall] this man [do]?" translates the Greek "τούτου δὲ τί;" (toutou de ti?), which is quite terse, literally "but this one, what?". It conveys Peter's direct and perhaps somewhat abrupt inquiry about John's future. The identification of John as "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (ὁ μαθητὴς ὃν ἠγάπα ὁ Ἰησοῦς) is a distinctive feature of John's Gospel, emphasizing his close relationship with Christ.
Practical Application
This verse offers a timeless lesson for believers today. It reminds us not to get caught up in comparing our spiritual journey, gifts, or circumstances with those of others. Just as Peter was called to follow Christ in his unique way, each believer is called to a personal walk of faith and obedience. Our energy should be directed towards fulfilling our own specific mission and trusting God's sovereign plan for our lives, rather than being distracted by the perceived successes or challenges of others. Focus on running the race set before you with endurance.