Matthew 4:18

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Matthew 4:18 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And 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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And 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.
Matthew 4:18 — American Standard Version

Context — Matthew 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18And 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.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Jesus walking by the sea of Galilee, etc.] Not for his recreation and diversion, or by accident: but on purpose to look out for, and call some, whom he had chosen to be his disciples. And as he was walking about, to and fro, he “saw two” persons; and as soon as he saw them, he knew them to be those he had determined to make his apostles: and these are described by their relation to each other, “brethren”; not merely because they were of the same nation, or of the same religion, or of the same employ and business of life, but because they were of the same blood; and by their names, “Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother”. Simon is the same name with ˆw[mç, “Simeon”; and so he is…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“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 Mat 16:18.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Sea of Galilee - This was also called the Sea of Tiberias and the Lake of Gennesareth, and also the Sea of Chinnereth, Numbers 34:11; Deuteronomy 3:17; Joshua 12:3. Its form is an irregular oval, with the large end to the north. It is about 14 miles in length, and from 6 miles to 9 miles in width. It is about 600 feet lower than the Mediterranean, and this great depression accounts for some of its special phenomena. 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,…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Mar 1:16; Luk 5:1. Matthew 4:23”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“4:18-22 The call of the first disciples illustrates one of the purposes of Jesus’ ministry: to call people to follow him in self-denying obedience (cp. 4:17, 23-25). 4:18 Simon, also called Peter, became the leader of the apostles (see 14:28; 15:15; 16:16) and the representative disciple (14:29-30; 16:15-19, 22-23).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“walking: Mat 1:16-18; Luk 5:2 sea: Mat 15:29; Num 34:11; Deu 3:17, Chinnereth, Luk 5:1, lake of Gennesaret, Joh 6:1, Joh 21:1, sea of Tiberias two: Mat 10:2; Luk 6:14; Joh 1:40-42, Joh 6:8 for: Exo 3:1, Exo 3:10; Jdg 6:11, Jdg 6:12; Kg1 19:19-21; Psa 78:70-72; Amo 7:14, Amo 7:15; Co1 1:27-29 Matthew 4:19”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification