108 J. Duncan M. Derrett sheep without a shepherd (Num 27:17; Mk 6:34), an idea for which we are prepared in Jn 10:11,14. That appointment, according to Philo, took place because of Moses’ and Joshua’s mutual love78, for Moses passed over his own sons and nephews, he whose own way of life was “worthy of love”. Such a divine appointment cannot be annulled except as at 1 Sam 15:23, 16:1. None of this excludes a fate like that of Samson, whose triumphs and whose fate have parallels with Peter’s79. No doubt the likeness with Samson is not obvious - John is not an “obvious” writer. But Jesus’ recognition of Peter as his heroic successor and deputy is no less pertinent for being surprising. ∆ιεζώσατο at v.7 makes sense, with its suggestion of readi- ness for action; but it prepares us for the ἐζώννυες and ἄλλος σε ζώσει at v.18, where also the ἐκτενεῖς τὰς χεῖράς σου pathetically predicts a time when Peter can no longer dive and swim. Martyrdom is being foretold at a period when old age will have terminated performance of the promise which arose from that fishing expedition and those initial “fish”. VII. Conclusion: the Mission no Delicate Affair No doubt Jn 21 is a “Petrine story”80. But do the fish-become-sheep exist for Peter, or does he exist for them? The curiosities of their relation- ship are relevant. Does the gospel spread by whispering in corners? Our chapter suggests nothing of the kind. Immediately before evangelization starts, at the outset of the Mission, aspects of the enterprise are empha- sized which do not loom so large in the synoptics. Perhaps I should ex- clude Lk 14:23, which tends in John’s direction. Admittedly missionaries may be rebuffed (Mt 10:14-15), so that they do not have a fair chance of convincing their potential hosts. John’s awareness of persecution is not as vivid as the synoptics’; yet for him it exists as an intellectual conflict (Jn 9:13-34). The Spirit has surely not ceased to direct those under perse- cution (Mt 10:19-20). But Jn 21 concentrates on the way the community is to be formed, as indeed Luke himself implied81 by mass activity. Then Philo, in a lyrical passage, Virt. 69 (see the whole at L.C.L., Philo VIII, 196-206) (for 78 φιλάλληλον see Plutarch, Mor. 977C, 979F). Philo even uses ἔρως at §55 (cf. Xen., Hiero 11.11). J.D.M. Derrett, “Ζώννυμι... The fate of Peter (Jn 21:18-19)”, FN 8 (1995), 79-84 at pp. 79 83-84. F. Neirynck, “John 21”, NTS 36/3 (1990), 321-336 at p. 329. 80 Lk 5:3-4. True, the connection between the teaching and the fishing is artificial as 81 noticed by M. Goguel, “Did Peter deny his Lord?”, HTR 25 (1932), 1-27 at p. 22 cited by Klein, “Berufung”, 2, 6 - but the switching of interest from the mass on the shore to