21:2
Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together: This list introduces the disciples who will be in the next events. In some languages it may be natural to introduce the list by indicating that these men were all disciples. For example:
Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Some disciples gathered there. They were Simon Peter, Thomas (also called the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others.
In other languages it may be natural for the names to precede the verb phrase: For example:
Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael (the one from Cana in Galilee), the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples of Jesus were all together. (Good News Translation)
Simon Peter: Simon Peter was the full name of the disciple who is often referred to as just Peter. See how you translated this name in 1:40 and 6:68. Simon Peter is the most important disciple in the next events. So it may be natural to emphasize his name by making him the subject of the sentence. For example:
Simon Peter was with Thomas the Twin, Nathanael from Cana-in-Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. (Revised English Bible)
Thomas called Didymus: The name Didymus was a Greek transliteration of the Jewish name of Thomas. He was probably called that because he was a twin, which is what the word means. See how you translated this phrase in 11:16 and 20:24.
Nathanael from Cana in Galilee: The disciple Nathanael came from the village of Cana in the province of Galilee. See the note on John 2:1, where this village is first mentioned. Nathanael is also mentioned in 1:45–51. He was possibly the same man as the disciple named Bartholomew (Matthew 10:3), but this is not certain.
the sons of Zebedee: The phrase the sons of Zebedee refers to the two brothers James and John. See how you translated this phrase in Matthew 10:35 and Luke 5:10.
disciples: See the note and how you translated this term in 21:1a.
were together: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as were together indicates that a group of Jesus’ followers had come to the same place, probably meeting to discuss what had happened. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
Some of the followers were together (New Century Version)
-or-
Several of the disciples were there (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Present there together were…
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