Homilies on the Gospel of St. John and the Epistle to the Hebrews

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostom327Having then nothing to do, they went to their fishing, 2589 and this same they did by night, becausethey were greatly afraid. This Luke also mentions; 2590 but this is not the same occasion, but adifferent one. And the other disciples followed, because they were henceforth bound to one another,and at the same time desired to see the fishing, and to bestow 2591 their leisure well. As they thenwere laboring and wearied, Jesus presenteth Himself before them, and doth not at once revealHimself, so that they enter into converse with Him. He therefore saith to them,Ver. 5 . “Have ye 2592 any meat 2593 ?”For a time He speaketh rather after a human manner, as if about to buy somewhat of them. Butwhen they made signs that they had none, He bade them cast their nets to the right; and on castingthey obtained a haul. 2594 But when they recognized Him, the disciples Peter and John again exhibitedthe peculiarities of their several tempers. The one was more fervent, the other more lofty; the onemore keen, the other more clear-sighted. On this account John first recognized Jesus, Peter firstcame to Him. 2595 For no ordinary signs were they which had taken place. What were they? First,that so many fish were caught; then, that the net did not break; 2596 then, that before they landed,the coals had been found, and fish laid thereon, and bread. 2597 For He no longer made things outof matter already subsisting, as, through a certain dispensation, He did before the Crucifixion. Whentherefore Peter knew Him, he threw down all, both fish and nets, and girded himself. Seest thouhis respect and love? Yet they were only two hundred cubits off; but not even so could Peter waitto go to Him in the boat, but reached the shore by swimming. What then doth Jesus?Ver. 12 . “Come,” He saith, “dine.” “And none of them durst ask Him.” 2598For they no longer had the same boldness, nor were they so confident, nor did they now approachHim with speech, but with silence and great fear and reverence, sat down giving heed to Him.“For they knew that 2599 it was the Lord.”And therefore they did not ask Him, “Who art Thou?” But seeing that His form was altered,and full of much awfulness, they were greatly amazed, and desired to ask somewhat concerning it;but fear, and their knowledge that He was not some other, but the Same, checked the enquiry, andthey only ate what He created for them 2600 with a greater exertion of power than before. For here2589Ver. 3, 4 . “ 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. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stoodon the shore, but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. ” N.T.2590Luke xxiv. 37 . “ But they were terrified and affrighted. ”2591al. “ dispose. ”2592“ Children, have ye, ” N.T.2593or, “ fish, ” προσφάγιον , that which is eaten with the bread.2594Ver. 5, 6, and 8 . “ They answered Him, No. And He said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and yeshall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. And the other disciples camein a little ship, for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits, dragging the net with fishes. ” N.T.2595Ver. 7 . “ Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard thatit was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. ” N.T.2596Ver. 11 . “ Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and forall there were so many, yet was not the net broken. ” N.T.2597Ver. 9, 10 . “ As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. ” N.T.2598“ ask him, Who art Thou? ” N.T.2599“ knowing that, ” N.T.2600Ver. 13 . “ Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. ” N.T.492