Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 21:3

"Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also come with thee. They went forth, and entered into the boat; and that night they took nothing." — John 21:3 (ASV)

Simon Peter says to them, I go a fishing. They say to him, We also go with you.

Men who are in a right state of heart cannot willingly be idle; so, if these apostles cannot preach for a time, they will go back to their old employment, and seek to catch fish.

They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

Brothers and sisters, without Christ's presence, that is what always happens: they caught nothing. But notice what the next verse says: –

Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee.

Their Master had told them to wait, but they could not wait.

Surely when they were in Galilee by his command, they might have trusted him to supply their needs; but their faith was slack, so Peter said, I go a fishing, and the others were much of the same mind; waiting had become weary work, as it often does with our faint hearts, so they said, We also go with thee.

They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

As is generally the case with us in our will-work and will-worship, when we are not guided by God but go entirely according to our own mind and will, it will be so with us also. Men attempt some business speculation without asking guidance from God, and they make a miserable failure of it, so that it might be written of them, as of the disciples, That night they caught nothing.

They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

Even apostles may fish and catch nothing. Do not be discouraged, you who, when you are endeavoring to fish for souls, for many a day catch nothing.