This verse ties Chapter 21 to Chapter 20, making this resurrection appearance to the disciples sequential to the two in Chapter 20.

Appeared translates a passive form in Greek (Revised Standard Version “was revealed”), but its meaning is equivalent to the active form used with an object in verse 1. Barclay translates “this was the third time that Jesus appeared to his disciples,” and New American Bible has “this marked the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples.”

It may be necessary to translate after he was raised from death by an active form, such as “after God raised him from death.”

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 .