Luke 5:1-11 · Bible study
Luke 5:1-11 Commentary: The Call of the First Disciples
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Study of Luke 5:1-11: the crowd's hunger for God's word, the miraculous catch of fish, and Jesus calling fishermen to become fishers of men.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus uses a miraculous catch to call fishermen to become disciples who will gather people into God's kingdom.
- Key words: epistata (Master), kopiaō (toil to exhaustion), zōgreō (catch alive); each highlights Jesus' authority, human effort's limits, and the life-giving nature of the mission.
- Main debate: Whether this call is a separate event from the call in Matthew 4:18-22 and Mark 1:16-20, or a fuller Lukan account of the same moment.
- Theological theme: God's abundance overcomes human futility; the presence of Jesus both terrifies sinners and commissions them.
- Best use: A starting point for teaching on discipleship, obedience, vocation, and the difference Jesus makes in our everyday work.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
1On one occasion, while Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret with the crowd pressing in on Him to hear the word of God,
2He saw two boats at the edge of the lake. The fishermen had left them and were washing their nets.
3Jesus got into the boat belonging to Simon and asked him to put out a little from shore. And sitting down, He taught the people from the boat.
4When Jesus had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”
5“Master,” Simon replied, “we have worked hard all night without catching anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.”
6When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to tear.
7So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
8When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees. “Go away from me, Lord,” he said, “for I am a sinful man.”
9For he and his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,
10and so were his partners James and John, the sons of Zebedee. “Do not be afraid,” Jesus said to Simon. “From now on you will catch men.”
11And when they had brought their boats ashore, they left everything and followed Him.
WEB World English Bible 2000
1Now while the multitude pressed on him and heard the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret.
2He saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.
3He entered into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.
4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
5Simon answered him, “Master, we worked all night and caught nothing; but at your word I will let down the net.”
6When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking.
7They beckoned to their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. They came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink.
8But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.”
9For he was amazed, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had caught;
10and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will be catching people alive.”
11When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything, and followed him.
KJV King James Version 1769
1And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
2And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
3And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
4Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
5And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
6And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
7And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
8When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
9For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
10And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
11And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
1Now it came to pass, while the multitude pressed upon him and heard the word of God, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret;
2and he saw two boats standing by the lake: but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
3And he entered into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the multitudes out of the boat.
4And when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
5And Simon answered and said, Master, we toiled all night, and took nothing: but at thy word I will let down the nets.
6And when they had done this, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes; and their nets were breaking;
7and they beckoned unto their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.
8But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
9For he was amazed, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken;
10and so were also James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
11And when they had brought their boats to land, they left all, and followed him.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
1And it came to pass, in the multitude pressing on him to hear the word of God, that he was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret,
2and he saw two boats standing beside the lake, and the fishers, having gone away from them, were washing the nets,
3and having entered into one of the boats, that was Simon's, he asked him to put back a little from the land, and having sat down, was teaching the multitudes out of the boat.
4And when he left off speaking, he said unto Simon, `Put back to the deep, and let down your nets for a draught;'
5and Simon answering said to him, `Master, through the whole night, having laboured, we have taken nothing, but at thy saying I will let down the net.'
6And having done this, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes, and their net was breaking,
7and they beckoned to the partners, who are in the other boat, having come, to help them; and they came, and filled both the boats, so that they were sinking.
8And Simon Peter having seen, fell down at the knees of Jesus, saying, `Depart from me, because I am a sinful man, O lord;'
9for astonishment seized him, and all those with him, at the draught of the fishes that they took,
10and in like manner also James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon; and Jesus said unto Simon, `Fear not, henceforth thou shalt be catching men;'
11and they, having brought the boats upon the land, having left all, did follow him.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
1And it came to pass, as the crowd pressed on him to hear the word of God, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret:
2and he saw two ships standing by the lake, but the fishermen, having come down from them, were washing their nets.
3And getting into one of the ships, which was Simon's, he asked him to draw out a little from the land; and he sat down and taught the crowds out of the ship.
4But when he ceased speaking, he said to Simon, Draw out into the deep [water] and let down your nets for a haul.
5And Simon answering said to him, Master, having laboured through the whole night we have taken nothing, but at thy word I will let down the net.
6And having done this, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes. And their net broke.
7And they beckoned to their partners who were in the other ship to come and help them, and they came, and filled both the ships, so that they were sinking.
8But Simon Peter, seeing it, fell at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.
9For astonishment had laid hold on him, and on all those who were with him, at the haul of fishes which they had taken;
10and in like manner also on James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, Fear not; henceforth thou shalt be catching men.
11And having run the ships on shore, leaving all they followed him.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
1And it came to pass, that when the multitudes pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Genesareth,
2And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them and were washing their nets.
3And going into one of the ships that was Simon's, he desired him to draw back a little from the land. And sitting, he taught the multitudes out of the ship.
4Now when he had ceased to speak, he said to Simon: Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a draught.
5And Simon answering said to him: Master, we have laboured all the night and have taken nothing: but at thy word I will let down the net.
6And when they had done this, they enclosed a very great multitude of fishes: and their net broke.
7And they beckoned to their partners that were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came and filled both the ships, so that they were almost sinking.
8Which when Simon Peter saw, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying: Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
9For he was wholly astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken.
10And so were also James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were Simon's partners. And Jesus saith to Simon: Fear not: from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
11And having brought their ships to land, leaving all things, they followed him.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Luke 5:1
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree this passage records a pivotal moment of calling. Jesus uses a boat as a pulpit, then commands a night-weary crew to let down their nets again. The enormous catch is not simply a miracle of provision; it reveals Jesus' authority over creation and sets the stage for the disciples' new identity. Simon Peter's reaction, falling at Jesus' knees and confessing his sin, shows that he recognizes divine presence, not just a lucky break. Jesus' response, "Don't be afraid. From now on you will be catching people alive," reorients their life's purpose. The Cambridge Bible calls the miracle "an acted parable," and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown notes that this call is progressive, building on earlier encounters. All traditions see the willingness of the fishermen to leave everything as the model response to Christ's summons.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Discrete Lukan event: Luke's narrative includes elements (teaching from the boat, miraculous catch, Peter's confession) absent from Matthew/Mark, suggesting a later, more complete call.
- Same event as Matthew/Mark: Commentators like Matthew Henry argue the differences are stylistic; both accounts describe the same call to discipleship.
- Symbolic/allegorical reading: Some (e.g., Cambridge Bible) emphasize the miracle as an "acted parable" for the church's mission, reading the fish as souls, the net as the gospel.
What is clear: Jesus demonstrates divine authority over the natural world, and the fishermen respond by leaving their livelihood to follow him.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Relation to Matthew 4:18-22 / Mark 1:16-20 | All three accounts present Jesus calling fishermen by the Sea of Galilee to follow him and become fishers of people. | Many commentators (e.g., Lange, Calvin) see this as a later, more developed call, a progression from initial acquaintance to full-time discipleship. Others (e.g., Matthew Henry) treat it as the same event recorded with more detail by Luke. |
| Peter's confession of sin at the miraculous catch | Peter's response shows a genuine encounter with divine holiness; he feels unworthy to be near Jesus. | Some traditions (e.g., Reformed) emphasize the terror of encountering God's presence as the first step toward a call. Others focus on Peter's humility as a model for repentance before mission. |
| The meaning of 'catching people alive' | The phrase indicates a mission to bring people into God's kingdom, not to destruction. | Some stress the 'alive' aspect as a contrast to Old Testament images of fishing as judgment (Jeremiah 16:16; Amos 4:2). Others see it as purely descriptive of the apostolic task, gathering people into the community of salvation. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The Lake of Gennesaret (the Sea of Galilee) was a hub for fishing. The boats in use were not large ships but open fishing vessels, likely with a small deck and a mast, crewed by a few men. Adam Clarke emphasizes the Greek word ploia means "vessels" or "boats," not the ocean-going ships of later centuries. Josephus records that around 230 such boats worked the lake, each carrying four or five men. Fishermen usually worked at night because fish were more active and easier to catch in cooler waters. They then washed and repaired their nets on shore in the morning. The mention that they had washed their nets suggests they were finished for the day, making Jesus' command to go out again a surprising one.
The crowd pressing on Jesus reflects the spiritual hunger stirred by his earlier ministry in Galilee. He taught in synagogues, healed the sick, and cast out demons, news of these works spread, drawing multitudes. The setting on the shore would have been typical for a traveling teacher; sitting in a boat just offshore allowed his voice to carry across the water and prevented the crowd from crushing him.
This passage also connects to Old Testament images of the Sea of Chinnereth (Numbers 34:11; Deuteronomy 3:17), the ancient name for the same lake. The region was fertile and populous, a crossroads of Jewish and Gentile cultures. Jesus' choice to call fishermen, men of manual labor, not religious elites, underscores the inclusive nature of his movement.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this passage. A few manuscripts read ploiaria (little boats) in verse 2 instead of ploia, but this does not alter the meaning. The standard Greek text is well-established.
Reception History
From the early church onward, this passage has been read as the paradigmatic call to apostolic ministry. Church fathers such as Gregory the Great saw the miraculous catch as a type of the church catching believers through the net of the gospel. In medieval art, the scene often appears in cycles of the life of Christ, emphasizing Peter's primacy. Later hymns, such as “Jesus Calls Us O'er the Tumult”, pick up the theme of leaving boats and nets. In the Reformation, Luther and Calvin used the passage to illustrate how God's word creates faith and overrides human reason. In modern evangelical preaching, it is a favorite text for sermons on stepping out in faith and discovering one's purpose.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The crowd's hunger for God's word (vv. 1-3). People press in, desperate to hear. Jesus uses the boat of a willing fisherman as his pulpit.
- The obedience of faith (vv. 4-7). Despite a fruitless night, Simon lets down the net at Jesus' word. The catch overwhelms their capacity.
- The call to a new purpose (vv. 8-11). Simon Peter's fear and confession give way to Jesus' reassignment: from fisher of fish to catcher of people alive.
Five-point outline
- Context of hunger: The multitude presses to hear the word of God. Jesus responds by teaching from a boat.
- Futility of human effort: Peter states they worked all night and caught nothing, a picture of life without Christ's direction.
- Surprising command: Jesus tells them to launch into the deep, a risky move after failure. Peter obeys on the basis of Jesus' word alone.
- Overwhelming abundance: The catch is so large the nets begin to break and boats sink. The miracle exposes Jesus' divine power.
- Transformation and commission: Peter's terror is met with "Fear not," followed by a new vocation. The disciples leave everything to follow.
Illustration hooks
- Fruitless work: A salesperson leaves a long day of cold calls with zero results. A neighbor has been praying for a loved one for years with no visible change. The temptation is to give up. Jesus' command to try again, once more, at His word, resonates.
- Crowd pressing in: Think of a popular speaker drawing a crowd that overflows a venue, except here the crowd is desperate for the word of God, not entertainment. Modern equivalents include people seeking truth in a confused world.
- Leaving everything: Leaving a stable job to start something new is risky. These fishermen left boats, nets, and even their father (as in Matthew 4:22). The cost of following Christ can be tangible.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does Jesus ask Peter to use his boat for teaching before the miracle? What does that tell us about using our resources for God?
- Peter obeyed even after a night of failure. How do we respond when God asks us to try again in an area where we've already failed?
- What does it mean today to "catch people alive"? Is that just for pastors, or for every believer?
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows a progression from hearing God's word to responding in faith, then receiving a new purpose. As you discuss, notice that Jesus does not begin with a demand to follow him; he first teaches, then provides a miracle, then calls. Let the wonder of who Jesus is shape how you read your own calling.
Discussion questions
- Read verses 1-3. Why do you think Luke emphasizes the crowd "pressing on him to hear the word of God"? What does that tell us about the spiritual climate?
- Simon Peter had already encountered Jesus before (John 1:41-42). Yet here he calls him "Master" (epistata, a word Luke uses only for Jesus). What does that title reveal about Peter's view of Jesus at this point?
- In verse 5, Peter says, "we toiled all night and caught nothing." The Greek verb kopiaō means to work to the point of exhaustion. How does that word color your understanding of his obedience in the next sentence?
- The catch is so large the nets begin to break, and both boats fill until they start to sink. Why does Luke include these details? What effect did the abundance have on Peter?
- Peter tells Jesus to depart from him because he is a sinful man. Have you ever felt unworthy to be in God's presence? How does Jesus respond to Peter's confession?
- Jesus says, "From now on you will be catching people alive" (v.10). The verb zōgreō means to take alive, as opposed to destroying. How does that word shape the mission of the church?
- Verse 11 says they left everything and followed him. What might that look like in your own context, not necessarily leaving a job, but leaving a mindset or a security?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Numbers 34:11 | The border shall go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain. The border shall go down, and shall reach to the side of the sea of Chinnereth eastward. |
| Deuteronomy 3:17 | the Arabah also, and the Jordan and its border, from Chinnereth even to the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, under the slopes of Pisgah eastward. |
| Joshua 12:3 | and the Arabah to the sea of Chinneroth, eastward, and to the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, eastward, the way to Beth Jeshimoth; and on the south, under the slopes of Pisgah: |
| Matthew 4:18 | 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. |
| Matthew 4:22 | They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him. |
| Matthew 11:12 | From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. |
| Matthew 14:34 | When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. |
| Mark 1:16 | Passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke highlights the Greek word for "catch" meaning catch alive: fish are taken to be killed, but souls converted through ministry are preserved to eternal life. He stresses that Peter's terrified plea for Jesus to leave stems from the Jewish fear that a divine manifestation means certain death, not rejection of Christ himself.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes highlights Peter's remarkable faith in obeying Jesus's command to try again after a night of catching nothing. The overwhelming catch that follows plunges Peter into a deep sense of his own unworthiness, so that he begs Jesus to leave him. Jesus instead reassures him and appoints him to catch people.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentary highlights the psychological truthfulness of Peter's reaction: his cry "Depart from me" is not a rejection of Jesus but an expression of agonized humility, the opposite of the Gadarenes' deliberate dismissal. It also notes that Peter calls himself "a sinful man" using the Greek word for an individual male, making his confession personal.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights the contrast between the disciples’ fruitless labor all night and the overwhelming catch they made at Christ’s command. He sees Peter’s obedience as a pattern for
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes this is the third and final call of Peter, James, and John before their appointment as apostles. Peter's response shows a relationship already formed; his obedience to cast the net again is an act of faith at Christ's word. Peter's cry "Depart from me" expresses awe at Christ's glory, not a desire to be separated from Him.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange sees this miracle as the moment a preliminary acquaintance with Jesus became a binding, permanent call. John recounts the first meeting; the Synoptics show the final commitment, with the disciples leaving their nets for good only after this startling event in Peter's own boat.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that Luke gives a fuller account of this calling than Matthew or Mark, placing it before those other miracles. He highlights Peter's overwhelming sense of unworthiness in response to the miraculous catch, which leads directly to Jesus reassuring him and commissioning him as a fisher of men.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley observes that Peter's cry of unworthiness and the tearing net mark a decisive turning point. These fishermen had already followed Jesus earlier, but only now did they forsake their trade entirely. The miracle made clear that they were now called to leave their ordinary work behind.