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Matthew 4:19

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Matthew 4:19 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And he saith unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And he saith unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Matthew 4:19 — American Standard Version

Context — Matthew 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
16The people that sat in darkness Saw a great light, And to them that sat in the region and shadow of death, To them did light spring up.
17From that time began Jesus to preach, and to say, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
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.
19And he saith unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20And they straightway left the nets, and followed him.
21And going on from thence he saw two other brethren, James the [son] of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
22And they straightway left the boat and their father, and followed him.
← Matthew 4:18Matthew 4:20 →
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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 he saith unto them, follow me, etc.] These two brethren had been the disciples of John, as Theophylact thinks, and which seems agreeable to (<430135>John 1:35-40) and though through John’s pointing out Christ unto them, they had some knowledge of him, and conversation with him, yet they abode with him but for that day, (<430137>John 1:37,38,39) and afterwards returned to their master; and upon his imprisonment, betook themselves to their former employment: from whence Christ now calls them to be his disciples, saying “follow me”, or “come after me”: that is, be a disciple of mine; (see <421427>Luke 14:27). And to encourage them to it, makes use of this argument; “and”, or “for”, I “will…”
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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 he saith unto them, Follow me--rather, as the same expression is rendered in Mark, "Come ye after Me" (Mar 1:17). and I will make you fishers of men--raising them from a lower to a higher fishing, as David was from a lower to a higher feeding (Psa 78:70-72).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Fishers of men - Ministers or preachers of the gospel, whose business it shall be to win souls to Christ. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“4:19 Come, follow me: This involved accepting the beliefs and lifestyle of a master as one’s own (16:24; Deut 5:33; 1 Kgs 19:19-21). • fish for people: The disciples would participate in the saving and judging work of the Kingdom (see Matt 10:5-15; 13:47-51; Ezek 29:4-5; Amos 4:2).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Follow: Mat 8:22, Mat 9:9, Mat 16:24, Mat 19:21; Mar 2:14; Luk 5:27, Luk 9:59; Joh 1:43, Joh 12:26; Joh 21:22 I will: Eze 47:9, Eze 47:10; Mar 1:17, Mar 1:18; Luk 5:10, Luk 5:11; Co1 9:20-22; Co2 12:16 Matthew 4:20”
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Related study paths

Read Matthew 4 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification