Matthew 4:18
While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus wasn't just looking for followers; he was looking for skilled laborers. He saw Peter and Andrew not just as men, but as fishermen, meaning they were already experts in their trade, skilled at their work, and accustomed to the patience and persistence required to bring in a catch. This highlights that God often calls people from their ordinary, everyday vocations, valuing the skills and character they've already developed.
Jesus is walking by the Sea of Galilee, and he sees two brothers, Simon (Peter) and Andrew, working as fishermen. This isn't the first time these men have encountered Jesus; some months prior, they had met him through John the Baptist and even spent time with him. Now, Jesus is calling them to leave their livelihood and follow him in a more dedicated, official capacity to spread the Good News.
Imagine your daily grind interrupted by a divine invitation. Jesus didn't seek out the elite; He called ordinary people from their ordinary lives. What does this tell us about God's priorities?
Jesus walks by the Sea of Galilee and sees two brothers, Simon and Andrew, casting a net into the water. These weren't religious leaders or scholars; they were fishermen, skilled in their trade but likely unlearned in religious law.
This scene highlights a core aspect of Jesus' ministry: He chose unlikely individuals to be His closest followers. The commentary suggests that Andrew and Peter had actually met Jesus before, even following Him for a time. However, they returned to their trade, perhaps for practical reasons or because the timing wasn't yet right for a full commitment.
Jesus' call emphasizes that God's power is often displayed through seemingly weak instruments. He isn't limited by human qualifications or social standing. The glory for the grand work of spreading the Gospel belongs to God, not to the men He uses.
Why fishermen? Why these men? Dive into the profound reasons Jesus chose these ordinary laborers to be the foundation of His church.
Jesus calls Simon Peter and Andrew, fishermen by trade, to leave their nets and follow Him. This choice wasn't accidental; it reveals God's wisdom and purpose.
Although John's Gospel records an earlier encounter where Andrew and Peter met Jesus and even received the name Peter, this passage in Matthew marks their definitive call to leave everything behind and become full-time apostles. It highlights Jesus' deliberate choice to recruit fishermen, emphasizing that divine calling and power, not worldly status or education, are foundational to His kingdom.
c. 28 AD
Initial Calling of Disciples
Andrew and Peter first encounter Jesus and are called to follow Him, even receiving the name Peter for Simon. They spend some time with Jesus before returning to their fishing.
c. 28-29 AD
Jesus' Ministry in Judea
Jesus engages in ministry in Judea, including baptizing disciples and interacting with John the Baptist. His disciples, including Andrew and Peter, likely accompany Him.
c. 29 AD
Return to Galilee
Following events in Judea, such as the arrest of John the Baptist and potential tensions with religious authorities, Jesus returns to Galilee.
c. 29 AD— this verse
Second Calling of Disciples
While walking by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus encounters Simon Peter and Andrew again, who are now casting a net into the sea. He calls them to leave their livelihood and become His full-time followers.
This passage describes the initial encounter where Andrew, having heard John the Baptist speak of Jesus, brings Simon to meet Him, showing that this 'call' in Matthew wasn't their very first introduction but a call to a specific, committed ministry.
Luke 5:1-11Luke's account of a miraculous catch of fish right after Jesus called Peter and Andrew provides a powerful confirmation of their calling and highlights Jesus' divine authority over creation.
Matthew 13:47-50Jesus later uses the metaphor of a fisherman casting a net to describe the separation of the righteous from the wicked at the end of the age, connecting the disciples' former profession to a future, spiritual harvest.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29Paul reflects on how God often chooses the seemingly weak and humble, like fishermen, to accomplish His purposes, underscoring the power of God that shines through human limitations.
bensonMatthew 4:18: "And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers."
Matthew 4:18 . And Jesus, walking, &c., saw two brethren — One of the two, at least, namely, Andrew, had been a disciple of the Baptist. And the Apostle John “informs us, John 1:40 ; John 1:42 , that they had both before been called to the knowledge of Christ, upon the banks of Jordan, and that the name of Peter had been given…
clarkeMatthew 4:18: "And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers."
Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother - Why did not Jesus Christ call some of the eminent Scribes or Pharisees to publish his Gospel, and not poor unlearned fishermen, without credit or authority? Because it was the kingdom of heaven they were to preach, and their teaching must come from above: besides, the conversion of…
Jesus wasn't just looking for followers; he was looking for skilled laborers. He saw Peter and Andrew not just as men, but as fishermen, meaning they were already experts in their trade, skilled at their work, and accustomed to the patience and persistence required to bring in a catch. This highlights that God often calls people from their ordinary, everyday vocations, valuing the skills and character they've already developed.
Jesus is walking by the Sea of Galilee, and he sees two brothers, Simon (Peter) and Andrew, working as fishermen. This isn't the first time these men have encountered Jesus; some months prior, they had met him through John the Baptist and even spent time with him. Now, Jesus is calling them to leave their livelihood and follow him in a more dedicated, official capacity to spread the Good News.
Jesus is walking by the Sea of Galilee, and he sees two brothers, Simon (Peter) and Andrew, working as fishermen. This isn't the first time these men have encountered Jesus; some months prior, they had met him through John the Baptist and even spent time with him. Now, Jesus is calling them to leave their livelihood and follow him in a more dedicated, official capacity to spread the Good News.
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The commentaries highlight that these men were already engaged in an honest and lawful occupation, suggesting they were morally upright individuals. Their prior experience and skills, though secular, would become valuable in their new spiritual calling.
"While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen." — Jesus wasn't just looking for followers; he was looking for skilled laborers. He saw Peter and Andrew not just as men, but as fishermen, meaning they were already experts in their trade, skilled at t…
