Matthew 4 · Verse 18

Matthew 4:18

And 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.
Matthew 4:18, King James Version

Matthew 4:18 in other translations

BSBAs Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
WEBWalking 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.
ASVAnd 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.
YLTAnd 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--
DARBYAnd 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;
BBEAnd when he was walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, whose other name was Peter, and Andrew, his brother, who were putting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
WebsterAnd 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.

What does Matthew 4:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
18. And Jesus, walking--The word "Jesus" here appears not to belong to the text, but to have been introduced from those portions of it which were transcribed to be used as church lessons; where it was naturally introduced as a connecting word at the commencement of a lesson. 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--"called Peter" for the reason mentioned in Mt 16:18.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 18. Sea of Galilee. This was also caned the sea of Tiberias, and the lake of Gennesareth, and also the sea of Chinnereth, Nu 34:11, De 3:17, Josh 12:3. It is about fifteen miles in length, and from six to nine in width. There is no part of Palestine, it is said, which can be compared in beauty with the environs of this lake. Many populous cities once stood on its shores, such as Tiberias, Bethsaida, Capernaum, Chorazin, Hippo, etc. The shores are described by Josephus as a perfect paradise, producing every luxury under heaven, at all seasons of the year. The river Jordan flows directly through the lake, it is said, without mingling with its waters, so that the course of the Jordan can be distinctly seen. The waters of the lake are sweet and pleasant to the taste, and clear. The lake still abounds with fish, and gives employment, as it did in the time of our Saviour, to those who live on its shores. It is, however, stormy, owing probably to the high hills by which it is surrounded.

Simon called Peter. The name Peter means a rock; and is the same as Cephas. Mt 16:18; also Jn 1:42; 1Cor 15:5.

(n) "called Peter" Jn 1:42

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother - Why did not Jesus Christ call some of the eminent Scribes or Pharisees to publish his Gospel, and not poor unlearned fishermen, without credit or authority? Because it was the kingdom of heaven they were to preach, and their teaching must come from above: besides, the conversion of sinners, though it be effected instrumentally by the preaching of the Gospel, yet the grand agent in it is the Spirit of God. As the instruments were comparatively mean, and, the work which was accomplished by them was grand and glorious, the excellency of the power at once appeared to be of God, and not of man; and thus the glory, due alone to his name, was secured, and the great Operator of all good had the deserved praise. Seminaries of learning, in the order of God's providence and grace, have great and important uses; and, in reference to such uses, they should be treated with great respect: but to make preachers of the Gospel is a matter to which they are utterly inadequate; it is a, prerogative that God never did, and never will, delegate to man. Where the seed of the kingdom of God is sowed, and a dispensation of the Gospel is committed to a man, a good education may be of great and general use: but it no more follows, because a man has had a good education, that therefore he is qualified to preach the Gospel, than it does, that because he has not had that, therefore he is unqualified; for there may be much ignorance of Divine things where there is much human learning; and a man may be well taught in the things of God, and be able to teach others, who has not had the advantages of a liberal education. Men-made ministers have almost ruined the heritage of God. To prevent this, our Church requires that a man be inwardly moved to take upon himself this ministry, before he can be ordained to it. And he who cannot say, that he trusts (has rational and Scriptural conviction) that he is moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon himself this office, is an intruder into the heritage of God, and his ordination, ipso facto, vitiated and of none effect. See the truly apostolic Ordination Service of the Church of England. Fishers - Persons employed in a lawful and profitable avocation, and faithfully discharging their duty in it. It was a tradition of the elders, that one of Joshua's ten precepts was, that all men should have an equal right to spread their nets and fish in the sea of Tiberias, or Galilee. The persons mentioned here were doubtless men of pure morals; for the minister of God should have a good report from them that are without.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 4:18-22
When Christ began to preach, he began to gather disciples, who should be hearers, and afterwards preachers of his doctrine, who should be witnesses of his miracles, and afterwards testify concerning them. He went not to Herod's court, not to Jerusalem, among the chief priests and the elders, but to the sea of Galilee, among the fishermen. The same power which called Peter and Andrew, could have wrought upon Annas and Caiaphas, for with God nothing is impossible. But Christ chooses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. Diligence in an honest calling is pleasing to Christ, and it is no hinderance to a holy life. Idle people are more open to the temptations of Satan than to the calls of God. It is a happy and hopeful thing to see children careful of their parents, and dutiful. When Christ comes, it is good to be found doing. Am I in Christ? is a very needful question to ask ourselves; and, next to that, Am I in my calling? They had followed Christ before, as common disciples, Joh 1:37; now they must leave their calling. Those who would follow Christ aright, must, at his command, leave all things to follow him, must be ready to part with them. This instance of the power of the Lord Jesus encourages us to depend upon his grace. He speaks, and it is done.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Matthew 4:18 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΠεριπατῶνPeripatōnWalkingG4043
δὲdenowG1161
παρὰparabesideG3844
τὴνtēntheG3588
θάλασσανthalassanSeaG2281
τῆςtēs<the>G3588
ΓαλιλαίαςGalilaiasof GalileeG1056
εἶδενeidenHe sawG1492
δύοduotwoG1417
ἀδελφούς,adelphousbrothers,G80
ΣίμωναSimōnaSimonG4613
τὸνtonthe [one]G3588
λεγόμενονlegomenonbeing namedG3004
ΠέτρονPetronPeterG4074
καὶkaiandG2532
ἈνδρέανAndreanAndrewG406
τὸνtontheG3588
ἀδελφὸνadelphonbrotherG80
αὐτοῦautouof himG846
βάλλονταςballontascastingG906
ἀμφίβληστρονamphiblēstrona netG293
εἰςeisintoG1519
τὴνtēntheG3588
θάλασσαν·thalassansea;G2281
ἦσανēsanthey wereG1510
γὰρgarforG1063
ἁλιεῖς.halieisfishermen.G231

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 4:18

  • John 1:40-42

    One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

  • Matthew 10:2

    Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

  • Mark 1:16-20

    Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. …

  • Luke 6:14

    Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,

  • Luke 5:1-11

    And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And 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. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. …

  • Matthew 16:18

    And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

  • John 21:1

    After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.

  • Mark 7:31

    And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.

  • John 6:1

    After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.

  • Matthew 15:29

    And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:27-29

    But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.

  • Judges 6:11-12

    And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abi–ezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
walking.
1:16-18; Lu 5:2
sea.
15:29; Nu 34:11; De 3:17
Chinnereth.
Lu 5:1
lake of Gennesaret.
Joh 6:1; 21:1
sea of Tiberias. two.
10:2; Lu 6:14; Joh 1:40-42; 6:8
for.
Ex 3:1,10; Jud 6:11,12; 1Ki 19:19-21; Ps 78:70-72; Am 7:14,15
1Co 1:27-29

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 4:17

    From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

  • Matthew 4:18

    And 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.

  • Matthew 4:19

    And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Read all of Matthew 4

Matthew 4:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y andando Jesús junto á la mar de Galilea, vió á dos hermanos, Simón, que es llamado Pedro, y Andrés su hermano, que echaban la red en la mar; porque eran pescadores.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et comme il marchait le long de la mer de Galilée, il vit deux frères, Simon appelé Pierre, et André son frère, qui jetaient un filet dans la mer, car ils étaient pêcheurs;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Als er aber am See von Galiläa wandelte, sah er zwei Brüder: Simon, genannt Petrus, und Andreas, seinen Bruder, die ein Netz in den See warfen, denn sie waren Fischer.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ambulans autem Jesus juxta mare Galilææ, vidit duos fratres, Simonem, qui vocatur Petrus, et Andream fratrem ejus, mittentes rete in mare (erant enim piscatores),