Matthew 4:21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Furthermore, he explains: "God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, God chose the weak things of the world to shame the things that are strong, and God chose the things that are ignorant of the world, and the things that are base and worthless, to abolish the things that are worthwhile" (1 Cor. 1:27-28). Thus, He does not select the noble or the affluent, so that the preaching does not seem suspect; nor does He choose the knowledgeable of this age to avoid the impression that He swayed humanity by the wisdom of this world. Instead, He chooses fishermen—those who are uneducated, simple, and overlooked—to reveal the grace of the Saviour.

Then, the Lord Jesus summoned them with His authoritative call, "Follow Me." Unlike the assurances He had given to Simon and Andrew, He offered them no such promises; yet, inspired by the example set by their fishing peers, they followed the Lord without hesitation or doubt. They understood that they had to relinquish something far more significant than their fishing nets: they had to leave their father behind. However, even the strong ties of familial love could not withstand the compelling authority of Jesus’ call.

The Miraculous Catch of Fish After concluding His lesson, Jesus instructed Simon to venture into deeper waters and cast his net for fish. The seasoned fisherman, having worked through the night without a catch, doubted that another attempt would yield any results; nevertheless, he obeyed the Lord's command. Peter, along with James, John, and their fellow fishermen, was astounded by the miraculous abundance of fish. While those unfamiliar with fishing might have reveled in such a bountiful catch, the experienced ones realized that fishing under those conditions would not result in success unless it were a divine act performed by Jesus. Humble and reverent, Peter fell at the feet of Jesus, declaring, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8). With this heartfelt admission, Peter acknowledged the greatness and holiness of Almighty Jesus, recognizing his own unworthiness for companionship with Him. At that moment, Peter was unaware that Jesus had come to sinners to call them to repentance; like other Jews, he believed the Righteous One should associate only with the righteous.

Calling of Peter, Andrew, James, and John In calling Peter, Jesus reassured him, saying, “Do not be afraid. From now on, you will catch men” (Luke 5:10). At this invitation, Peter, along with Andrew, James, and John, brought their boats to land, leaving their nets and the fish behind to follow Jesus. The accounts provided by the Evangelists Matthew and Mark regarding this calling do not mention the miraculous catch prior to it, thus leading to apparent inconsistencies with Luke’s narrative. For comparison, Matthew notes: “...He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother... and said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men’” (Matthew 4:18-20). Mark similarly writes: “...He saw Simon and Andrew... and said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men’” (Mark 1:16-18).

When examining the accounts of Matthew and Mark alongside Luke’s, it becomes evident that the disciples were called at the lake’s shore while engaged in their fishing activities. The only difference lies in the fact that Luke suggests Peter and his companions were called after the miraculous catch, whereas Matthew and Mark imply the call happened while they were still casting their nets. It is implausible that Matthew and Mark refer to a distinct event; therefore, the apparent inconsistency may arise from their intention to focus solely on how Peter, Andrew, James, and John left everything behind to follow Jesus, omitting previous details they deemed less critical.

The disciples’ calling, as recounted by all three Evangelists, is viewed as the definitive moment when Peter, Andrew, James, and John became followers of Jesus. However, the Gospel of John provides earlier details about the calling of Andrew, Peter, John, James, Philip, and Nathanael, which occurred after John the Baptist’s profound testimony of Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God (John 1:35-51). By comparing these two calls and considering the circumstances surrounding the second call, we can infer that after the initial invitation, the disciples did not consistently accompany Jesus during His travels; at times, they returned to their former livelihoods. Yet, following the second call, they remained His steadfast companions and eventually emerged as the chosen apostles among the twelve.

After finishing His discourse, He instructed Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." Simon replied, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless, at Your word, I will let down the net." The less Simon anticipated a successful catch, the more astonishing the miracle became as Jesus prepared the fishermen for their future as apostles, showing them that their previous losses could easily be redeemed by His command. Upon following His instruction, they surprisingly caught a massive number of fish, causing their nets to begin breaking. They signaled their partners in the other boat, who came to assist and filled both vessels to the point of sinking. This remarkable catch left Simon and his companions not just in astonishment, but in dread. Other miraculous signs they had witnessed did not affect them as deeply as this one, which they had experienced firsthand. Overcome with emotion, Simon fell to his knees before Jesus, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." In response to his heartfelt plea, the All-Knowing One spoke words of reassurance and commissioning for a great purpose: "Do not be afraid; from now on you will catch men." He also called to Simon's partners, inviting them, "Come, follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." The fishermen promptly responded, as noted by St. Philaret of Moscow, with swift resolve, complete readiness, and steadfast commitment, without hesitation. They brought both boats ashore, leaving everything behind to follow the Lord Jesus, with James and John even parting ways with their father Zebedee.