Jesus doesn't just stumble upon these disciples; he sees them actively engaged in their trade, "casting a net." This wasn't a passive moment but a deliberate act of their labor, illustrating that Jesus calls us from our purposeful work, not from idleness.
Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just begun His ministry in Galilee, preaching the good news of God's kingdom after John the Baptist was imprisoned. As He walks along the Sea of Galilee, He encounters Simon and his brother Andrew, who are fishermen casting their nets, and this encounter marks the beginning of their call to follow Him.
Jesus didn't seek out religious leaders or scholars for his first disciples. He found them in the midst of their daily grind.
Imagine Jesus walking along the shores of the Sea of Galilee. He sees Simon and Andrew, busy doing what they knew best – casting nets into the water. This wasn't a dramatic, staged event; it was life happening. They were fishermen, likely working hard to make a living.
This is crucial because it shows us that God often calls ordinary people, in ordinary circumstances, to do extraordinary things. Jesus wasn't looking for perfection or a polished resume. He saw potential in their dedication to their trade, a skill that he would later transform.
Jesus’ call wasn't a suggestion; it was a direct invitation that demanded immediate, life-altering action.
When Jesus says to Simon and Andrew, "Come, follow me," it’s not a casual "maybe someday." It's a command, an invitation that requires leaving everything behind.
Think about their situation: they were actively working, providing for themselves and their families. To drop their nets, their livelihood, their entire way of life, and follow a stranger who made such a bold claim was radical.
Ask a follow-up
Jesus didn't just recruit fishermen; he transformed their identity and their purpose from catching fish to capturing people for God's kingdom.
The most profound aspect of this call is Jesus' promise: "I will make you into fishers of men." He takes their existing skill and reframes it for a divine mission.
What did it mean to be a fisherman? It involved skill, patience, understanding the waters, casting nets, and bringing in the catch. Jesus uses this imagery to describe the work of spreading the gospel, calling people to repentance and faith, and drawing them into God's kingdom.
Understand the original words
akoloutheō · Greek Verb
A call to discipleship, denoting a total shift in allegiance, imitation of life, and submission to the authority of a teacher. In the New Testament, it signifies leaving one's former life to live under the lordship of Jesus Christ.
halieus anthrōpōn · Greek Noun
In a vocational sense, one who catches fish; metaphorically, as used by Jesus, it describes those commissioned to reach humanity with the Gospel and bring them into the kingdom of God.
eutheōs · Greek Adverb
A state of being that emphasizes the urgency and suddenness of a response. It signifies the absolute priority of the Kingdom of God, requiring that no earthly delay or attachment hinder immediate obedience to Jesus.
The calling of these first disciples wasn't a sudden, impulsive event but a deliberate process, showing Jesus' patient method of gathering followers and training them for their future ministry.
c. AD 27-28— this verse
Jesus' Ministry Begins in Galilee
After John the Baptist is imprisoned, Jesus returns to Galilee, beginning his public ministry by teaching and preaching the good news of God's kingdom.
c. AD 27-28
First Disciples Called
Jesus encounters fishermen Simon, Andrew, James, and John by the Sea of Galilee and calls them to follow him, promising to make them 'fishers of men'.
c. AD 27-28
Jesus Teaches from a Boat
Jesus borrows Peter's boat to teach a large crowd gathered on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, demonstrating his practical engagement with the local community.
c. AD 27-28
Miraculous Catch of Fish
After a night of fruitless fishing, Jesus instructs Peter and his companions to cast their nets again, resulting in an astonishingly large catch that fills two boats.
c. AD 27-28
Disciples' Deep Conviction
Overwhelmed by the miraculous catch, Peter expresses his sense of unworthiness in Jesus' presence, highlighting the profound impact of Jesus' power and authority.
c. AD 27-28
Jesus' Ministry Spreads
Jesus travels throughout Galilee, teaching in synagogues, preaching the kingdom, and healing various illnesses, gaining widespread renown across the region.
This passage recounts the same event of Jesus calling Simon, Andrew, James, and John to be His disciples, providing a parallel perspective on their immediate response and transformation into 'fishers of men'.
Luke 5:1-11Luke's account includes the miraculous catch of fish, which vividly illustrates the disciples' inadequacy and Jesus' power, deepening the significance of their call and their subsequent following of Him.
John 1:35-42John's Gospel details the initial encounter where Andrew, having followed Jesus after hearing John the Baptist, brings his brother Simon to Jesus, showing the foundational steps that led to this later, more definitive call.
Isaiah 19:8This Old Testament prophecy speaks of fishermen lamenting their lost nets and empty catches, which resonates metaphorically with the disciples' former occupation and their new calling to 'catch' people for God's kingdom.
barnesMark 1:16: "Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers."
See the notes at Matthew 4:18-22 .
gillMark 1:16: "Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers."
Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee,.... The same with the sea of Tiberias, John 6:1 , he saw Simon: whose surname was Peter, the son of Jonas: and Andrew his brother; the brother of Simon, casting a net into the sea; of Galilee, in order to catch fish: for they were fishers: by occupation, this was their trade and business, by which they got their livel…
Jesus doesn't just stumble upon these disciples; he sees them actively engaged in their trade, "casting a net." This wasn't a passive moment but a deliberate act of their labor, illustrating that Jesus calls us from our purposeful work, not from idleness.
Jesus has just begun His ministry in Galilee, preaching the good news of God's kingdom after John the Baptist was imprisoned. As He walks along the Sea of Galilee, He encounters Simon and his brother Andrew, who are fishermen casting their nets, and this encounter marks the beginning of their call to follow Him.
Jesus has just begun His ministry in Galilee, preaching the good news of God's kingdom after John the Baptist was imprisoned. As He walks along the Sea of Galilee, He encounters Simon and his brother Andrew, who are fishermen casting their nets, and this encounter marks the beginning of their call to follow Him.
"Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they le…" — Jesus doesn't just stumble upon these disciples; he sees them actively engaged in their trade, "casting a net." This wasn't a passive moment but a deliberate act of their labor, illustrating that Jes…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
