In Greek the verb got (into) is actually a participle which Good News Translation and others render as a finite verb.

Went back across is translated in a variety of ways. Some focus attention on the completeness of the action (Phillips “made their way across”), while others stress the initiation of the action (New English Bible “pushed off to cross”; see also Revised Standard Version, Jerusalem Bible, Moffatt). Commentators tend to see either the action in progress (“were on their way across”) or see the words as representing an action the disciples were trying to do (New American Bible “intending to cross the lake”). No final decision can be made, but the last two possibilities seem to suit the context better than the first two. It is clear, however, that went back across should not be so translated as to indicate that the disciples had already reached their destination. Jesus evidently met them while they were still on the lake, and it was only after he was received into the boat that they immediately reached the shore to which they were headed.

The Greek word thalassa, whichGood News Translation translates here as lake, usually means a body of salt water, rather than a freshwater lake. In Hebrew a single term is used for both, and John’s use of thalassa here reflects his Semitic background. Revised Standard Version has “sea,” which in English can mean either “ocean” or “lake.” Although popular usage speaks of “the Sea of Galilee,” Good News Translation prefers lake here, in order to make clear what kind of body of water is being referred to.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .