22. And they immediately left the ship and their father--Mark adds
an important clause: "They left their father Zebedee in the ship with
the hired servants"
(Mr 1:20);
showing that the family were in easy circumstances.
and followed him--Two harmonistic questions here arise: First,
Was this the same calling as that recorded in
Joh 1:35-42?
Clearly not. For, (1) That call was given while Jesus was yet in Judea:
this, after His return to Galilee. (2) Here, Christ calls Andrew:
there, Andrew solicits an interview with Christ. (3) Here, Andrew and
Peter are called together: there, Andrew having been called, with an
unnamed disciple, who was clearly the beloved disciple (see on
Joh 1:40),
goes and fetches Peter his brother to Christ, who then calls him. (4)
Here, John is called along with James his brother: there, John is called
along with Andrew, after having at their own request had an interview
with Jesus; no mention being made of James, whose call, if it then took
place, would not likely have been passed over by his own brother. Thus
far nearly all are agreed. But on the next question opinion is
divided: Was this the same calling as that recorded in
Lu 5:1-11?
Many able critics think so. But the following considerations are to us
decisive against it. First here, the four are called separately, in
pairs: in Luke, all together. Next, in Luke, after a glorious miracle:
here, the one pair are casting their net, the other are mending theirs.
Further, here, our Lord had made no public appearance in Galilee, and
so had gathered none around Him; He is walking solitary by the shores
of the lake when He accosts the two pairs of fishermen: in Luke, the
multitude are pressing upon Him, and hearing the word of God, as He
stands by the Lake of Gennesaret--a state of things implying a somewhat
advanced stage of His early ministry, and some popular enthusiasm.
Regarding these successive callings, see on
Lu 5:1.
JFB.
Outline
1 The temptation of Jesus
13 Jesus dwells in Capernaum
17 Jesus begins to preach
18 Jesus calls Peter and Andrew, James and John
23 Jesus heals the sick
Drawing of the Temptation of Jesus Christ by Dore
Important Topics for Bible Study
Quick Reference Map
Map of Galilee and northern Israel
(Click to Enlarge)
Painted Illustration of Jesus Calling James and John
Ancient Customs
Geography
Capernaum
Galilee
Matthew Resources
The New Testament