Matthew records:
“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 fishermen. Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” (Matthew 4:18–20)
Mark tells the same story and emphasizes the immediacy of their response:
“They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” (Mark 1:18)
Luke gives a fuller account, showing that before they left everything, Jesus demons/”>demonstrated His power by filling their empty nets:
“When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.” (Luke 5:6–7)
Overwhelmed, Peter fell before Jesus and said:
“Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (Luke 5:8)
But Jesus replied:
“Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” (Luke 5:10)
John records that Andrew, one of John the Baptist’s disciples, was among the first to follow Jesus, and he brought his brother Simon Peter (John 1:40–42). This shows that Jesus’ calling of fishermen was not accidental but intentional.
Fishermen were ordinary men, hardworking and disciplined, but not scholars or leaders. By calling them first, Jesus showed that His kingdom would not be built by human power or prestige but by those willing to leave everything and follow Him. Their new mission as “fishers of men” symbolized the work of gathering souls into the kingdom of God.
