William Burkitt on John 21:1

The foregoing chapter acquainted us with several appearances of Christ to his disciples after his resurrection, all which were in Jerusalem.

This chapter acquaints us with his appearing to his disciples in Galilee, whither he had ordered his disciples to go, promising there to meet them. Jerusalem now becomes a forsaken place, a people abandoned to destruction; Christ will not show himself openly to them, but Galilee was a place where Christ's ministry had found better acceptance; to Galilee therefore doth he go. Such places wherein Christ is most welcome to preach, shall be most honoured with his presence: Jesus showed himself to his disciples at the sea of Tiberias, called elsewhere the sea of Galilee.