Simon Peter said to them, I go a fishing. They say to him, We also go with you. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
I go.
2 Kings 6:1-7 And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us…
Matthew 4:18-20 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers…
Luke 5:10,11 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men…
and that.
Luke 5:5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
1 Corinthians 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
“We will go with you,” they said.
The other disciples' willingness to join Peter underscores their camaraderie and shared uncertainty. This collective decision reflects the close-knit community among the disciples, who often acted together (Mark 3:14). Their response also indicates a shared sense of purpose and solidarity, even in times of doubt. This moment can be seen as a precursor to their future mission as "fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19), where they will work together to spread the Gospel.
So they went out and got into the boat,
The act of getting into the boat signifies a return to their previous way of life, at least temporarily. Boats were essential for fishing on the Sea of Galilee, a major source of livelihood in the region. This action can be seen as a metaphor for the disciples' readiness to embark on a new journey, both literally and spiritually. The boat is also a symbol of the Church, carrying the disciples through the waters of life, guided by Christ.
but caught nothing that night.
The lack of success in their fishing efforts can be interpreted as a reminder of their dependence on Jesus. In John 15:5, Jesus tells His disciples, "apart from Me you can do nothing," emphasizing the necessity of divine guidance. The night setting often symbolizes a time of trial or lack of understanding in biblical literature (John 3:2, John 9:4). This fruitless endeavor sets the stage for Jesus' miraculous intervention, demonstrating His power and the importance of obedience to His word.
Peter speaks first, revealing his natural role as the spokesman for the group (John 6:68). Jesus had told the disciples to meet Him in Galilee (Matthew 28:7), but the waiting period seems long, so Peter returns to what he knows best—fishing (Luke 5:3). His decision shows:
• A practical response to waiting: occupying time productively.
• A struggle with uncertainty: after the Resurrection, the next steps are not yet clear (John 20:19–23).
• A reminder of an earlier call: Jesus first met Peter while he was cleaning nets (Matthew 4:18–19), hinting that this moment will echo that first calling and deepen it.
The other six disciples present (John 21:2) quickly follow Peter’s lead, displaying:
• Fellowship and solidarity (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10).
• A shared desire for normalcy in a turbulent season (Acts 1:6).
• Readiness for work: though called to be “fishers of men,” they still understand diligence in everyday tasks (Colossians 3:23).
Their collective action highlights:
• Immediate obedience to a chosen course, even if imperfect (James 1:22).
• Use of available resources: a familiar boat on the Sea of Galilee, the very setting of earlier miracles (Mark 4:35–41).
• Anticipation that provision often follows faithful labor (Proverbs 14:23).
The empty nets emphasize:
• Human effort apart from Christ yields emptiness (John 15:5).
• A divine setup for a teaching moment: Jesus will soon provide an abundant catch (John 21:6), echoing the first miraculous catch (Luke 5:5–6).
• The limitation of natural skill when God withholds increase (Psalm 127:1–2).
Physical darkness mirrors spiritual dependence: they need the risen Lord’s direction to be fruitful.
John 21:3 shows disciples choosing familiar work while waiting for further instruction, revealing both their humanity and leadership dynamics. Their fruitless night underscores that success comes only through the risen Christ’s presence and power, preparing hearts for His transformative appearance at dawn.
(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 expectation of the presence of the Lord. The picturesque colouring of the whole scene is quite in St. John's style, as is also the simple co-ordinate arrangement of sentences without connecting particles.And that night they caught nothing.--Comp. for the fact Luke 5:5; but the words are different. The word here rendered "caught" occurs nowhere in the other Gospels, but is found again in this chapter (John 21:10), and six times in the earlier chapters of the Gospel (John 7:30; John 7:32; John 7:44; John 8:20; John 10:39; John 11:57). It occurs also in Revelation 19:20. . . .
Verse 3. - Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a-fishing. The abruptness of the language addressed to six (μαθηταί) disciples, who seemed to be living as in one family, suggests a lengthened waiting, and some disappointment as to the effect upon their daily life of the great revelation. They are summoned by the most commanding spirit among them to resume what was, for some of them at least, their customary calling. He would seek in humble fashion, along the lines of ordinary duty to his family and himself, the supply of daily wants. According to some writers, Peter felt a presentiment of the coming of his Lord under scenes identical with those of his first call (Luke 5:1-11). According to others, Peter exhibited some of the heart-sickness of deferred hope. On either supposition we see a new illustration of, and testimony to, the character of the man who was so conspicuous an initiator. They say to him, We also come (or, go) with thee. They do not "follow" him, as they had been summoned once to follow their Lord; but they are willing, even eager, to accompany the strong-hearted man, and ready to take his lead. They share at once either in his presentiment or in the expression of his delayed hope. They went forth; i.e. from the home which they had made for themselves on this well-remembered spot - from Capernaum, which was most probably the early home of Peter, and a spot to which he would naturally revert. And entered into the ship; the veritable vessel that had often served them on that lake of storms. Though Peter and Andrew, James and John, had left their boats and nets and hired servants, it is not unlikely that members of their two families had retained them. And that night they took nothing. Let the unusual word be noticed. Πιάζειν occurs three times in this brief narrative and six times in the Gospel, in the sense of "laying hold," "taking possession of," but nowhere in the synoptists. It occurs, however, in Acts 12:4; 2 Corinthians 11:32; Ecclus. 23. 21; and, what is more remarkable, in the sense of "taking animals" in Revelation 19:20 (ἐπιάσθη τὸ θηρίον); so the LXX. for אָחַז (Song of Solomon 2:15). The night was then, as now, the most convenient time for fishing, and the fruitless effort must have reminded them of the night described in Luke 5. Some critics have supposed this failure to be parabolic or symbolic of the comparatively barren results of the apostolic ministry to the Jews, while what followed was prophetic of the great success which should accompany their appeal to the Gentiles. But Peter's wonderful success on the Day of Pentecost and on subsequent occasions in dealing with Jews, contradicts this interpretation. The only analogy which offers itself to our minds is the limited success of all their endeavors until the apostles were veritably endowed with power from on high.