Luke's account of this incident is the longest of the three. Luke stressed Peter and omitted any reference to Andrew, his brother (Matt. 4:18; Mark 1:16). He characteristically focussed on single individuals that Jesus' touched wherever possible to draw attention to Jesus. He also stressed the sovereignty and holiness of Jesus as well as these disciples' total abandonment of their possessions to follow Jesus. Jesus repeated the lesson of this incident after His resurrection (John 21:1-14).
Luke placed this account in his Gospel after the Capernaum incidents rather than before them as Mark did (Mark 1:21-28). He probably arranged his material this way to stress Jesus' sovereignty over people having established the general program of Jesus' ministry.174The emphasis on Jesus' sovereignty continues through chapter 5. This was not the first time Jesus had talked with Peter and the other disciples mentioned. Andrew had told his brother Peter that he had found the Messiah (cf. John 1:41). However these disciples' thought of the Messiah as their contemporaries did. They expected a political deliverer who was less than God. Jesus had to teach them that He was God as well as Messiah. This lesson and its implications took all of Jesus' ministry to communicate.
5:1-3 These verses give the setting for the incident. Again Luke pointed out that the crowd was listening to the word of God (v. 1; cf. 4:32, 36). The people were so interested that they pressed upon Jesus. Jesus put some distance between them and Himself by teaching from a boat not far off shore.
Luke described the Sea of Galilee as a lake, as most of His readers would have thought of it. Gennesaret was the town and plain on its northwest coast from which it received its name.
Luke's characteristic attention to detail is obvious in that he referred to two boats, setting the stage for verse 7. Evidently the fishermen had used large dragnets (Gr. diktau) when they had fished all night, which Zebedee, James, and John were now washing and mending (Matt. 4:21; Mark 1:19; Luke 5:2). Peter and Andrew were using a smaller round casting net (Gr. amphibleston) throwing it into the water from close to shore (Matt. 4:18; Mark 1:16).
5:4-5 Luke alone specified that Simon and his companions were "fishermen"(Gr. halieus, v. 2). Consequently Jesus' command to launch out into the deep water for another try at fishing contrasts Jesus' authority with the natural ability of these men. Peter's compliance shows his great respect for Jesus that led to obedience and ultimately to a large catch of fish. "Master"(Gr. epistata) is Luke's equivalent for "teacher"or "rabbi."Luke never used the term "rabbi"probably because it would have had little significance for most Greek readers. "Master"is a term that disciples or near disciples used of Jesus (8:24, 45; 9:33, 49), and it indicates submission to authority.
5:6-7 Luke first stressed the gathering of very many fish (cf. John 21:6). The details give the narrative the ring of truth. "Partners"(Gr. metochos) probably refers to partners in business (cf. v. 10; Heb. 1:9; 3:1, 14; 6:4; 12:8).
5:8-10a Luke's other emphasis was Peter's response to this miracle. The catch so amazed (Gr. thambos) Peter that he prostrated himself before Jesus, evidently in the boat. Peter now addressed Jesus as "Lord"(Gr. kyrios) instead of "Master.""Lord"obviously expressed more respect than "Master."In view of later developments in Peter's life, it is difficult to say that Peter viewed Jesus as God when he called Him "Lord"here. He may have done so and then relapsed into thinking of Him as only a mortal later. Nevertheless Peter expressed conviction of sin in Jesus' presence indicating that he realized that Jesus was very different from himself (cf. Isa. 6:5). "Depart from me,"or, "Go away from me,"expresses Peter's feeling of uncleanness in Jesus' presence. Jesus' superior ability caused Peter to sense that he was a sinner, one who fell short. "Sinner"(Gr. hamartolos) is one of Luke's characteristic words. Of the 22 occurrences of this word in the Synoptics, 15 are in Luke.
"Luke does not use the term pejoratively but compassionately, as a common term applied to those who were isolated from Jewish religious circles because of their open sin, their unacceptable occupation or lifestyle, or their paganism. Luke shows that these sinners are the objects of God's grace through the ministry of Jesus."175
"What Peter does not realize is that admitting one's inability and sin is the best prerequisite for service, since then one can depend on God. Peter's confession becomes his résumé for service. Humility is the elevator to spiritual greatness."176
5:10b-11 Jesus does not depart from nor reject sinners who feel conviction because of their sin. He draws them to Himself and sends them out to serve Him. Jesus used the fish to represent people that Peter would draw into the kingdom of God and before that into the church (cf. Acts. 2; 10:9-48). This seems to be a reference to catching in the sense of saving rather than in the sense of judging and destroying. Peter and his three companions immediately abandoned their life as fishermen to become Jesus' disciples full-time (cf. 14:33; 18:22).177It is unlikely that they were able to finance their life as Jesus' disciples with this catch of fish, as one commentator suggested.178
"Luke did not lay particular stress on the thought of giving up all to follow Jesus (Mk. 1:18, 20): the accent is on v. 10 with its call to mission."179
The general emphasis in this incident is on the authority of Jesus. His words had powerful effects. The only proper response to them was submission. Blessing would follow in the form of participation in Jesus' mission.
"The major application in the miracle of the catch of fish centers around Jesus' instructions and Peter's responses. In the midst of teaching many, Jesus calls a few people to more focused service. Peter is one example of such a call. Everyone has a ministry, and all are equal before God, but some are called to serve him directly. Peter has the three necessary qualities Jesus is looking for. He is willing to go where Jesus leads, he is humble, and he is fully committed."180
This whole first section describing Jesus' teaching mission (4:14-5:11) focuses on Jesus' authority and the proper response to it.
