And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
walking.
Matthew 1:16-18 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ…
Luke 5:2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
sea.
Matthew 15:29 And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.
Numbers 34:11 And the coast shall go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain; and the border shall descend, and shall reach unto the side of the sea of Chinnereth eastward:
Deuteronomy 3:17 The plain also, and Jordan, and the coast thereof, from Chinnereth even unto the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, under Ashdothpisgah eastward.
Chinnereth.
Luke 5:1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
lake of Gennesaret.
John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.
John 21:1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
sea of Tiberias.
Matthew 10:2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
Luke 6:14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
John 1:40-42 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother…
for.
Exodus 3:1,10 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb…
Judges 6:11,12 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites…
1 Kings 19:19-21 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him…
He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew
Simon, later named Peter by Jesus, is a central figure in the Gospels and the early church. His name means "rock," signifying his foundational role in the church. Andrew, Peter's brother, is known for bringing people to Jesus, including Peter himself. The calling of these brothers highlights the importance of family and relational evangelism in the spread of the Gospel. Their partnership in fishing foreshadows their future collaboration in ministry.
They were casting a net into the sea
Fishing was a common occupation in Galilee, and casting nets was a typical method used by fishermen. This imagery of casting nets is later used by Jesus to describe the work of evangelism, as seen in His call to make them "fishers of men." The act of casting a net symbolizes the spreading of the Gospel message and the gathering of people into the Kingdom of God. It also reflects the hard work and perseverance required in ministry.
for they were fishermen
Fishermen in the first century were known for their hard work, patience, and resilience. These qualities would be essential for the disciples as they faced challenges in their mission. The choice of fishermen as Jesus' first disciples underscores the theme of God using ordinary people for extraordinary purposes. It also reflects the humility and simplicity of Jesus' ministry, contrasting with the religious elite of the time. The calling of fishermen fulfills Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah reaching out to the humble and lowly.
• “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee…” places the scene in a real, familiar setting that will anchor much of His early ministry (Matthew 4:13; Mark 1:16).
• Isaiah 9:1-2 foretold that light would dawn “by way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,” and here that prophecy is being fulfilled before the disciples even realize it.
• Jesus is not waiting in a synagogue or throne room; He is out where ordinary people live and work. His movement toward them demonstrates divine initiative (John 15:16).
• The text underscores that Jesus “saw” them. His gaze is purposeful, echoing 2 Chronicles 16:9—“the eyes of the Lord roam to and fro throughout the earth.”
• Luke 19:10 reminds us that “the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” From the outset, Jesus is actively seeking people, not passively receiving applicants.
• By naming them, Scripture roots the story in history (John 1:42; Matthew 10:2).
• “Peter” means “rock,” hinting at future leadership (Matthew 16:18), yet at this moment Simon is simply a working man.
• Andrew, often the quiet introducer (John 1:40; 6:8-9), shows that Jesus values every personality, not just the outspoken.
• The brothers are in mid-task, immersed in daily labor. Jesus intersects ordinary routine with extraordinary purpose (Luke 5:1-11).
• Their occupation required perseverance, teamwork, and patience—traits the Lord will redirect toward gospel ministry (John 21:6).
• Scripture states their trade to emphasize their common status (Acts 4:13). God delights in using what the world deems insignificant (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).
• In the very next verse Jesus will turn their vocational identity into a kingdom metaphor: “I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). The skills they already possess become tools for evangelism.
Matthew 4:18 shows Jesus purposefully walking into the everyday world of two ordinary brothers, truly seeing them, and preparing to transform their familiar work into a mission of eternal significance. The verse highlights His initiative, the historical reality of the call, and the way the Lord repurposes humble lives for His kingdom.
(18) And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee.--In no part of the Gospel history is it more necessary to remember St. John's record as we read that of the Three, than in this call of the disciples. Here, everything seems sudden and abrupt. There we learn that those who were now called had some months before accepted Him as the Christ (John 1:35-43), and had, some or all of them, been with Him during His visit to Jerusalem. Simon had already received the surname of Cephas or Peter or the Rock. Putting these facts together, we have something like a clear outline picture of their previous life. The sons of Jona and the sons of Zebedee had grown up in Bethsaida (probably on the north-west shore of the Lake of Galilee), and were partners in their work as fishermen. The movement of Judas of Galilee, in his assertion of national independence, had probably served to quicken their expectations of a good time coming, when they should be free from their oppressors. When they heard of the preaching of the Baptist, they joined the crowds that flocked to hear him, and received his baptism of repentance. Then they were pointed to the Lamb of God, and received Him as the Christ. Then for a short time they were His companions in His journeyings. When He began the first circuit of His Galilean ministry He was alone, and left them to return to their old calling. They could not tell whether He would ever care to use their services again, and it was under these circumstances that the new call came. St. Matthew's narrative and St. Mark's (Mark 1:16-20) agree almost verbally; St. Luke's presents more difficulty. Is it another and fuller version of the same facts? or, if different, did what he records precede or follow the call which they relate? The first view seems the most probable, but see Notes on Luke 5:1-11.Verses 18-22. - The summons to help in his work: his first formal adherents. (Parallel passage: Mark 1:16-20 Luke 5:1, 2, 9-11, very doubtful, but cf. Godet].) On the relation of this call to the meeting with Andrew and Peter, recorded in John 1:40-42, vide especially Bishop Westcott there. That was "the establishment of a personal relationship;" this "a call to an official work." Verse 18. - And Jesus, walking. Revised Version rightly omits "Jesus," and inserts "he" before "saw." The right reading does not detract so much from the emphatic statement of ver. 17. By the Sea of Galilee. His walk lay along the lake. Socin ('Baedeker,' p. 372) speaks of "the probability that there was a frequented road from the mouth of the Jordan skirting the bank of the lake." Two brethren, Simon... and Andrew his brother; the addition, "his brother," emphasizing the relationship. Christ's coming would divide households (Matthew 10:21). He would, therefore, be the more glad when members of one family united in following him. Simon, etc. (vide Matthew 10:2, note). Called; Revised Version, who is called; i.e. not specially by Christ, but in common usage among Christians (Matthew 10:2). Casting a net; βάλλοντας ἀμφίβληστρον (no var. lect.). Probably later than and explanatory of the form found in the parallel passage, Mark 1:16, ἀμφιβάλλοντας (alone). A net; i.e. a casting-net of circular, bell-like shape, "which, when skilfully cast from over the shoulder by one standing on the shore or in a boat, spreads out into a circle (ἀμφιβάλλεται) as it falls upon the water, and then, sinking swiftly by the weight of the leads attached to it, encloses whatever is below it" (Trench, 'Syn.,' § 64.). It specializes δίκτυον (any net, ver 20), and differs from σαγήνη (the long draw-net, Matthew 13:47).