Matthew 4:21
And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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While we often imagine mending nets as just repairing damage, the original word here can also mean "preparing" or "adjusting them for work." This suggests James and John weren't just fixing what was broken, but actively getting their equipment ready for their next endeavor, highlighting their readiness to shift focus when Jesus called.
Jesus is continuing his ministry and calling disciples, having just invited Peter and Andrew. He spots James and John, also brothers, working alongside their father Zebedee in their fishing boat, preparing their nets for work. This immediate scene sets the stage for their dramatic, instantaneous call to leave everything behind and follow Him.
Imagine Jesus walking past a scene you know well – your workplace, your daily grind. What does it mean when Jesus calls you right out of it?
Jesus finds James and John in the midst of their ordinary labor: mending nets. This wasn't a moment of idleness or peak excitement, but the necessary, often tedious work that sustained their livelihood.
The Nature of the Work
Jesus didn't offer a lengthy recruitment speech. He saw, he called, and they responded. What does this swift obedience teach us about discipleship?
The encounter between Jesus and the brothers James and John is marked by its immediacy and the profound response it elicits.
A Divine Invitation
Understand the original words
ekalesen · Greek Verb
Refers to a call or summons, specifically the divine invitation from Jesus to follow Him, which entails a complete change of allegiance and direction in life.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Jesus' early Galilean ministry begins
After his baptism and temptation, Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee, gathering disciples and teaching.
Early 1st century AD
Call of Simon Peter and Andrew
Jesus calls Simon Peter and Andrew, fishermen by trade, to follow him, promising to make them 'fishers of men'.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Call of James and John
Jesus encounters James and his brother John, also fishermen, working with their father Zebedee. He calls them, and they immediately leave their boat and father to follow him.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' ministry intensifies
Jesus' ministry gains momentum, attracting large crowds and leading to increased opposition from religious authorities.
c. AD 33
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
This passage describes the calling of Peter and Andrew, and later James and John, using a miraculous catch of fish to demonstrate Jesus' power and prompt their immediate discipleship. It parallels Matthew 4 by showing Jesus calling fishermen from their work and the disciples' obedient response.
Mark 1:19-20Mark also records Jesus calling James and John, noting they were in a boat with their hired servants, as well as their father Zebedee. This highlights the swiftness of their departure, leaving their father and employees behind to follow Jesus.
Matthew 13:45-46Jesus uses the parable of the valuable pearl to illustrate the immense worth of the Kingdom of Heaven. This connects to the calling of James and John by showing the profound value Jesus places on His disciples, a value so great it makes abandoning all earthly possessions and occupations a wise and worthy decision.
1 Kings 19:19-21In the Old Testament, Elijah called Elisha to be his successor by finding him plowing with twelve yoke of oxen. Elisha's immediate and enthusiastic response, killing his oxen and following Elijah, mirrors the decisive obedience shown by James and John when Jesus called them.
bensonMatthew 4:21: "And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them."
Matthew 4:21-22 . Going on from thence — Mark says, A little further thence, He saw two other brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother — The reader will observe, there was another James, the son of Alpheus, or Cleophas, commonly called James the Less. In a ship, with Zebedee their father…
barnesMatthew 4:21: "And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them."
And going on from thence - From the place where he had found Peter and Andrew, Matthew 4:18 . Saw two other brothers - They were men engaged in the same employment, as it is probable that there were many such in the neighborhood of the lake. In a ship - A small vessel. In fact, it was little more, probab…
While we often imagine mending nets as just repairing damage, the original word here can also mean "preparing" or "adjusting them for work." This suggests James and John weren't just fixing what was broken, but actively getting their equipment ready for their next endeavor, highlighting their readiness to shift focus when Jesus called.
Jesus is continuing his ministry and calling disciples, having just invited Peter and Andrew. He spots James and John, also brothers, working alongside their father Zebedee in their fishing boat, preparing their nets for work. This immediate scene sets the stage for their dramatic, instantaneous call to leave everything behind and follow Him.
Jesus is continuing his ministry and calling disciples, having just invited Peter and Andrew. He spots James and John, also brothers, working alongside their father Zebedee in their fishing boat, preparing their nets for work. This immediate scene sets the stage for their dramatic, instantaneous call to leave everything behind and follow Him.
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Jesus is crucified in Jerusalem, and according to Christian belief, is resurrected three days later.
c. AD 33 onwards
The Early Church flourishes
The disciples, including James and John, empowered by the Holy Spirit, spread the Gospel throughout the Roman world.
"And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them." — While we often imagine mending nets as just repairing damage, the original word here can also mean "preparing" or "adjusting them for work." This suggests James and John weren't just fixing what was…
