John 21:22,23 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

If I will that he tarry, &c.— "If it is my pleasure that he should live till my coming [in judgment upon Jerusalem], what is that to thee?" So the word μενειν signifies, being elliptical for the words μενειν εν τη σαρκι, to abide in the flesh. We have both the elliptical and complete phrase, Philippians 1:24-25. The brethren, it seems, understood, by Christ's coming, his coming to future judgment; and upon this foundation they grounded their notion that John should not die: and that there was such a notion and tradition among the ancients, learned writers have particularly shewn; and among the rest, Fabricius, in his Codex Apocal. Nov. Test. vol. 2: p. 533. This prophetic suggestion of the longevity of St. John was verified by the event; for he lived till Trajan's time, or thereabouts, which was near one hundred years after Christ's birth, and thirty years after the destruction of Jerusalem; so that he did abide in the flesh till his Lord came to take signal vengeance on that devoted city. Our Lord's reply to St. Peter seems very strongly to discourage a curiosity ofinquiring into other men's affairs, and into doctrines which are of no importance in religion.