Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The word chosen for "caught" here is significant; it's not just about the absence of fish, but a complete failure to "lay hold of" anything, a term also used in this Gospel for attempts to seize Jesus himself. This subtle choice highlights how their efforts, apart from divine intervention, yielded absolutely nothing, echoing the emptiness they may have felt in their hearts.
Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Fresh from witnessing the resurrected Jesus, the disciples are back in Galilee, a familiar place after their harrowing experiences. Peter, ever impulsive and perhaps feeling a void in their immediate future, decides to return to their old trade of fishing, and the others, seeking comfort in routine and companionship, join him in their boat for a night's work that yields nothing.
After encountering the risen Christ, the disciples head back to their old jobs. What does this say about their state of mind and their trust in Jesus?
Peter declares, 'I am going fishing.' The others agree, 'We will go with you.' This wasn't necessarily a rejection of their calling, but a return to the familiar during a time of uncertainty. They likely felt a need to provide for themselves, perhaps feeling the support they once had was gone after the scandal of the cross.
It's easy to see this as a step backward, but consider it as a pause. They hadn't received new instructions, and their previous experiences with Jesus had been deeply emotional and world-altering. Returning to their trade was a way to cope, to find normalcy, and to maintain their livelihoods while they waited.
Think of it this way: Jesus met them where they were. He didn't reprimand them for fishing; He met them in their boat, on their familiar waters.
They rowed out, worked all night – the prime time for fishing – and came up with absolutely nothing. What lesson was God teaching them in this failure?
The text emphasizes that 'that night they caught nothing.' This wasn't just a bad night; the phrasing suggests it was unusual, perhaps even memorable. Night was the best time for fishing in the Sea of Galilee, making their complete lack of success even more striking.
This failure served a crucial purpose: contrast. Just as their first call to discipleship involved a miraculous catch after a fruitless night (Luke 5:5), this encounter with the risen Christ would also culminate in an astonishing catch after their own night of emptiness.
This teaches a profound lesson: human effort, even skilled and in prime conditions, is insufficient without divine power and presence. Their meticulous work yielded nothing, setting the stage for a miracle that would remind them where true success comes from.
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This passage occurs in the period between Jesus' resurrection and His ascension. The disciples, awaiting further instructions, have returned to their familiar work, highlighting their human uncertainty and the Lord's timely intervention to reveal Himself and His ongoing mission.
c. AD 30
Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus, the central figure of the disciples' lives and ministry, is crucified, causing shock and grief.
c. AD 30
Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus is raised from the dead, a pivotal event that would have brought confusion and awe to his followers.
c. AD 30
Post-Resurrection Appearances
Jesus appears to his disciples over a period of 40 days, offering comfort, instruction, and solidifying their faith.
c. AD 30— this verse
Disciples' Return to Galilee
Following Jesus' appearances, many disciples return to their home region of Galilee. Peter suggests they return to their former occupation of fishing.
c. AD 30
Miraculous Catch of Fish
On the Sea of Galilee, the disciples experience a miraculous catch of fish under Jesus' guidance, revealing His presence and power.
c. AD 30
Breakfast with Jesus
Jesus prepares a meal for the disciples on the shore, further confirming His resurrected reality and strengthening their fellowship.
c. AD 30
Restoration of Peter
Jesus uniquely commissions Peter, asking him three times if he loves Him, and instructing him to 'feed my sheep'.
This passage describes a similar miraculous catch of fish, highlighting the disciples' initial failure and Jesus' power to bring success when they follow His instructions.
John 15:5Jesus states, 'I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him is bearing much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing,' which echoes the disciples' experience of catching nothing apart from Jesus.
Jeremiah 29:11This verse speaks of God's plans for hope and a future, contrasting with the disciples' immediate lack of success and underscoring that their waiting period was part of a larger, purposeful plan.
1 Corinthians 15:10Paul reflects on his own ministry, stating, 'But by the grace of God I am what I am,' mirroring how the disciples' efforts were ultimately fruitful only through God's intervention, not just their own labor.
Philippians 4:11-12Paul's contentment in all circumstances, whether having plenty or needing food, relates to the disciples returning to their trade, showing that faithfulness involves working and trusting God even in seemingly ordinary or unsuccessful times.
vincentJohn 21:3: "Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing."
A ship (τὸ πλοῖον)Rev., the boat; restoring the article, which indicates a familiar implement. See on Luke 5:2.ImmediatelyOmit.That nightThe emphatic pronoun that (ἐκείνῃ) may indicate that their ill success was unusual.Caught (ἐπίασαν)So John 21:10. The verb means to lay hold of, and is nowhere else u…
ellicottJohn 21:3: "Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing."
(3) Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. —The words are the vivid representation by an ear-witness of what actually took place as they re turned to their ordinary work during the interval between the Passover and Pentecost. It does not express either an abandonment of their higher vocation, or an expe…
The word chosen for "caught" here is significant; it's not just about the absence of fish, but a complete failure to "lay hold of" anything, a term also used in this Gospel for attempts to seize Jesus himself. This subtle choice highlights how their efforts, apart from divine intervention, yielded absolutely nothing, echoing the emptiness they may have felt in their hearts.
Fresh from witnessing the resurrected Jesus, the disciples are back in Galilee, a familiar place after their harrowing experiences. Peter, ever impulsive and perhaps feeling a void in their immediate future, decides to return to their old trade of fishing, and the others, seeking comfort in routine and companionship, join him in their boat for a night's work that yields nothing.
Fresh from witnessing the resurrected Jesus, the disciples are back in Galilee, a familiar place after their harrowing experiences. Peter, ever impulsive and perhaps feeling a void in their immediate future, decides to return to their old trade of fishing, and the others, seeking comfort in routine and companionship, join him in their boat for a night's work that yields nothing.
"Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing." — The word chosen for "caught" here is significant; it's not just about the absence of fish, but a complete failure to "lay hold of" anything, a term also used in this Gospel for attempts to seize Jesu…
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Last reviewed October 2026