The words were all together (literally “were together”) occur at the beginning of the Greek sentence, with the names following, but most English translators restructure in a way similar to Good News Translation to meet the demands of English style. The use of the full name Simon Peter is typically Johannine.

Thomas was first mentioned in 11.16. Nathanael is mentioned in the episode in 1.43-51; otherwise he appears in John’s Gospel only in this verse. In the earlier account no mention is made of his coming from Cana in Galilee. The sons of Zebedee are James and John. They are not mentioned by name anywhere in the Gospel and only here as the sons of Zebedee. In this Gospel the name “John” always refers to John the Baptist, unless specifically marked otherwise, as at 21.15, Simon son of John.

Along with this group of five disciples mentioned by name are two other disciples of Jesus whose identity is not given.

In some languages, rather than beginning with a list of names, followed by a statement that all these persons were together, it is necessary to say “The disciples who were together included Simon Peter, Thomas…” or “The following disciples were all together: Simon Peter, Thomas….”

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 .