John 21:19

19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

John 21:19 in Other Translations

19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him,Follow me.

19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, "Follow me."

19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”

19 He said this to hint at the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And then he commanded, "Follow me."

19 Now this he spake, signifying by what manner of death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

19 Jesus said this to show by what kind of death Peter would bring glory to God. After saying this, Jesus told Peter, "Follow me!"

19 He said this to signify by what kind of death he would glorify God. After saying this, He told him, "Follow Me!"

19 Jesus said this to point out how Peter would die. His death would bring glory to God. Then Jesus said to him, "Follow me!"

John 21:19 Meaning and Commentary

John 21:19

This spake he
These are the words of the evangelist, explaining the meaning of Christ in like manner, as in ( John 12:33 )

signifying by what death he should glorify God;
for by the above words Christ not only intimated that Peter should die, not a natural, but a violent death, or that he should die a martyr in his cause, but the very kind of death he should die, namely, by crucifixion; and that Peter was crucified at Rome, ecclesiastical history confirms ^F6, when Christ was magnified, and God was glorified by his zeal and courage, faith and patience, constancy and perseverance to the end:

and when he had spoken this:
concerning the usage and treatment he should meet with, the sufferings he should undergo, and death he should die for his sake, for the present trial of him:

he saith unto him, follow me:
which may be understood literally, Jesus now rising up, and ordering him to come after him; and yet as a sign of his following him, in a spiritual sense, exercising every grace upon him, discharging every duty towards him, faithfully and constantly performing his work and office, as an apostle and preacher of the Gospel, in which he had now reinstated and confirmed him, and patiently bearing and suffering all kind of reproach, persecution, and death, for his name's sake.

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 Euseb. Eccl. Hist. l. 2. c 25.

John 21:19 In-Context

17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”

19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”)

21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

Cross References

• 1. John 12:33; John 18:32
• 2. John 13:36; 2 Peter 1:14
• 3. S Matthew 4:19