2 brothers

Matthew 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."

We are studying God’s call to His faithful followers. Their example teaches us how to follow Christ more closely.

These verses mark the official beginning of Jesus’ public ministry in Galilee, after His baptism, wilderness temptation, and John the Baptist’s arrest. Yesterday’s verse highlighted two key themes; repentance and the imminent Kingdom. Distinguishing Jesus from John. John prepared the way; Jesus is the King who makes the Kingdom accessible to all who repent and follow Him.

Today’s verse records Jesus calling His first disciples, Simon (later called Peter) and his brother Andrew, while they fished the Sea of Galilee. As Jesus walked along the shore, He saw them casting their nets, calling these ordinary working men to become the foundation of His ministry.

The Sea of Galilee (also called the Lake of Gennesaret or Sea of Tiberias) was a prosperous fishing region, and Jesus had recently begun His ministry in nearby Capernaum. Simon and Andrew owned their own boats and equipment, indicating they were not poor but established fishermen. Simon would later be renamed Peter (“rock” or “Cephas”), pointing to his future role in the church.

They were using a common cast net, a labor-intensive method that required skill and perseverance. Jesus deliberately chose humble, uneducated fishermen rather than religious elites, showing that the Gospel’s power comes from God, not human status or wisdom. This call also foreshadowed their mission as “fishers of men,” gathering people into God’s Kingdom.

Historical note: According to John’s Gospel, this was not their first encounter with Jesus. They had briefly followed Him earlier before returning to fishing. This moment was a renewed, decisive call to leave their trade for full-time discipleship with Christ.