John 21:15-16

Holman Christian Standard Bible

¹⁵When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John,^[a] do you love^[b] Me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.”

“Feed^(A) My lambs,”^(B) He told him.

¹⁶A second time He asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love^(C) Me?”^(D)

“Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.”

“Shepherd^(E) My sheep,”^(F) He told him.

John 21:15 Other mss read Simon, son of Jonah; Mt 16:17; Jn 1:42
John 21:15 Two synonyms are translated love in this conversation: agapao, the first 2 times by Jesus (vv. 15-16); and phileo, the last time by Jesus (v. 17) and all 3 times by Peter (vv. 15-17). Peter’s threefold confession of love for Jesus corresponds to his earlier threefold denial of Jesus; Jn 18:15-18,25-27.