The calling of these four men shows Jesus' authority over people. The response of these disciples was appropriate in view of their summons by the King. They obeyed "immediately"(vv. 20, 22).
4:18-20 The Hebrews referred to lakes as "seas."The Sea of Galilee (Old Testament Chinnereth) got its name from its district.210Its other name, Sea of "Gennesaret,"from "Chinnereth,"came from the plain to the northwest of the lake (Luke 5:1).211Sometimes people referred to the lake as the Sea of Tiberias. Tiberias was the city Herod built on its southwest shore. It was approximately 12 miles long and 9 miles wide at its longest and broadest points. It supported a thriving fishing industry in Jesus' day with nine towns on its western shore. Simon and Andrew had moved from their hometown of Bethsaida ("Fishtown,"John 1:44) to Capernium (Mark 1:21, 29).
Simon's nickname was Peter ("Rocky"). The net (Gr. amphibleston, used only here in the New Testament) that Simon and Andrew were casting into the lake was a circular one. It was a common tool of Galilean fishermen.
Jesus' command, "Follow me"(v. 19) was a call to leave their occupations and literally follow Jesus wherever He would take them as His trainees. The phrase "fishers of men"recalls Jeremiah 16:16. There Yahweh sent "fishermen"to gather Israelites for the Exile. Here Jesus called fishermen to announce the end of Israel's spiritual exile (cf. 1:11-12; 2:17-18) and to prepare for His messianic reign. Later, after experiencing rejection by Israel, Jesus recommissioned these men for duty in the inter-advent age (28:18-20; John 21:15-23).
Evidently Jesus had called Simon, Andrew, Philip, and Nathanael earlier (John 1:35-51). Probably they returned to Galilee and resumed their former work.212This would partially explain their quick response to Jesus here (v. 20). If the miracle of Luke 5:1-11 took place the night before this calling, we have another reason they followed Jesus "immediately."Matthew's interest was not in whythese men responded as they did but howthey responded. They recognized Jesus' authority and left all to follow Him.
4:21-22 James and John were evidently repairing (Gr. katartizo) their nets after a night of fishing (cf. 1 Cor. 1:10; 2 Cor. 13:11).
"In the Synoptics, unlike Paul's epistles, Jesus' call is not necessarily effectual. But in this instance it was immediately obeyed."213
Note that the disciples left their father as well as their fishing (v. 22).
"The call of God through Jesus is sovereign and absolute in its authority; the response of those who are called is to be both immediate and absolute, involving a complete break with old loyalties. The actual shape of this break with the past will undoubtedly vary from individual to individual, but that there must be a fundamental, radical reorientation of a person's priorities is taken for granted."214
