Matthew 4:18-22 Meaning: Why Fishermen Were First
18Walking 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.
19He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.”
20They immediately left their nets and followed him.
21Going 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. He called them.
22They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him.
18And 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.
19And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
21And 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.
22And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
18And walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishers.
19And he saith unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20And they straightway left the nets, and followed him.
21And going on from thence he saw two other brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
22And they straightway left the boat and their father, and followed him.
18And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon named Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a drag into the sea--for they were fishers--
19and he saith to them, `Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men,'
20and they, immediately, having left the nets, did follow him.
21And having advanced thence, he saw other two brothers, James of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, refitting their nets, and he called them,
22and they, immediately, having left the boat and their father, did follow him.
18And walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishers;
19and he says to them, Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20And they, having left their trawl-nets, immediately followed him.
21And going on thence he saw other two brothers, James the [son] of Zebedee and John his brother, in the ship with Zebedee their father, mending their trawl-nets, and he called them;
22and they, having left the ship and their father, immediately followed him.
Meaning in one sentence
Why did Jesus call ordinary fishermen as his first disciples? Matthew 4:18-22 shows he chose willing hearts over religious credentials.
Context
Jesus had just started preaching in Galilee, calling people to repent because the kingdom of heaven was near. Now he walked along the shore of the Sea of Galilee. This was not a random stroll. He was looking for the people he would train to carry his message. He found two pairs of brothers, all fishermen. Peter and Andrew were casting a net. James and John were in a boat with their father, mending nets. Jesus called them, and they left everything to follow him. This simple scene marks the start of something new: not a recruitment of the learned, but an invitation to the willing.
Key Words
Two small Greek words set the tone for this passage. The first is εὐθέως (eutheōs), meaning 'immediately' or 'straightway.' It appears twice, once for each pair of brothers. There is no hesitation, no negotiation. The call and the response are almost the same moment. The second word is ἀκολουθέω (akoloutheō), to follow. In the New Testament, this word means more than walking behind someone. It means joining as a disciple, attaching yourself to a teacher. These men did not just go in the same direction as Jesus. They bound their lives to his. And then Jesus promises to repurpose their trade, making them fishers of men. The word for fishermen (ἁλιεῖς, halieis) carries their old identity into their new one. He does not erase what they were. He repurposes it. The very skill they used to catch fish would now be used to gather people into the kingdom. This is how Jesus calls, not by demanding a new resume but by transforming the life you already have.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this call as a picture of grace and obedience. Reformed commentators like Calvin and Matthew Henry emphasize the power of Christ’s call itself. It was not human persuasion but God’s voice that made them leave their nets. Methodist commentator Adam Clarke points out that Jesus bypassed the religious teachers of his day to show that the kingdom’s power comes from God, not human credentials. Baptist writer John Gill and others note the practical cost: these men left a family business and their father. Anglican commentators often focus on the harmony of the Gospel accounts, noting that these fishermen had already encountered Jesus through John the Baptist. All traditions agree on the central point: ordinary people were called to an extraordinary mission, and they responded without delay.
A common misunderstanding
A common mistake is to think these fishermen were poor, uneducated men with nothing to lose. In fact, they owned boats and fishing equipment. Commentators note that James and John left their father with hired servants (Mark 1:20), suggesting a family business of some size. Their decision to follow Jesus was not an easy leap from poverty; it was a genuine sacrifice. They walked away from their livelihood and, for James and John, their father as well. Their obedience carried real cost.
Living This Out
You might be in the middle of your workday when Jesus speaks through a Scripture or a friend's words. You could delay, but this passage invites you to respond immediately. That might mean adjusting your schedule to help someone, saying no to a habit that distracts you, or committing to a small act of obedience you've been putting off. The fishermen didn't wait for a better time. You can follow him today, starting with one small yes.
Main takeaway: Jesus calls ordinary people to leave their security and follow him, promising to give their lives new purpose.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jesus was walking by a lake and saw some men fishing. He asked them to come with him, and they stopped fishing right away and followed him. They knew Jesus was special, so they went with him because they wanted to be with him.
For ages 9, 12
These fishermen were in the middle of their work when Jesus called them. They had boats and nets, and it was their job to catch fish to sell. But when Jesus said 'Follow me,' they left everything, even their father and the boat, and went with him. They didn't know everything about Jesus yet, but they trusted him. Sometimes following Jesus means leaving behind things that are familiar, even good things, because knowing him is worth more.
Questions People Ask
Why did Jesus choose fishermen instead of religious teachers?
Jesus did not choose the most educated or religiously powerful people. Fishermen were ordinary workers, but they were willing to leave everything and follow. This shows that God's kingdom is open to everyone, not just the elite. It also highlights that the power of the gospel comes from God, not human credentials.
What does 'fishers of men' mean?
Jesus used the fishermen's trade to describe their new mission. Just as they caught fish for a living, they would now bring people into the kingdom of God by sharing the good news about Jesus. This phrase appears only in the Gospels and shows how Jesus repurposes our skills and experiences for his work.
Did these disciples already know Jesus before this call?
The Gospel of John (John 1:35-42) suggests that Andrew had been a disciple of John the Baptist and had already spent time with Jesus. Peter was brought to Jesus by Andrew. So this call was not their first encounter. It was a more permanent invitation to leave their jobs and become full-time followers.
Why did James and John leave their father in the boat?
Leaving their father shows the cost of following Jesus. Zebedee was their father, and they left him with the boat and hired servants (Mark 1:20). This was a real sacrifice, but they believed following Jesus was more important than family business or even family ties. This does not mean we should abandon family, but it shows Jesus deserves first place.
How did Jesus call them? Was it a loud shout or a quiet invitation?
The text says Jesus 'saw them' and 'said to them, Come after me.' The exact tone is not given, but the response was immediate. The power was in the call itself, not the volume. In the same way, Jesus can call us through ordinary means, a Bible verse, a friend's word, or a quiet sense of leading, and we can respond just as quickly.
For pastors & researchers
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