Church Fathers Commentary Luke 5:4-7

"And when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answered and said, Master, we toiled all night, and took nothing: but at thy word I will let down the nets. And when they had done this, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes; and their nets were breaking; and they beckoned unto their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink." — Luke 5:4-7 (ASV)

St. Cyril of Alexandria: After teaching the people sufficiently, He returns to His mighty works and, by the act of fishing, fishes for His disciples. Thus, it says, When he had left off speaking, he said to Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

St. John Chrysostom: For in His condescension to humanity, He called the wise men by a star, and the fishermen by their craft of fishing.

Theophylact of Ohrid: Peter did not refuse to obey, as it says, And Simon answering said to him, Master, we have toiled all night and have taken nothing. He did not go on to say, “I will not listen to you, nor expose myself to additional labor,” but rather adds, Nevertheless, at your word I will let down the net.

But our Lord, since He had taught the people from the ship, did not leave the master of the ship without a reward, but conferred on him a double kindness: first, giving him a multitude of fish, and next, making him His disciple. As it says, And when they had done this, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes. They took so many fish that they could not pull them out, but sought the help of their companions, as it follows: But their net broke, and they beckoned to their partners who were in the other ship to come... Peter summons them by a sign, being unable to speak from astonishment at the catch of fish. We next hear of their assistance: And they came and filled both the ships.

St. Augustine of Hippo: John does seem to speak of a similar miracle, but this is very different from the one he records. That one took place after our Lord’s resurrection at the Lake of Tiberias, and not only the time but the miracle itself is very different. For in the latter, the nets, being let down on the right side, took one hundred and fifty-three fish, and these of a large size. It was necessary for the Evangelist to mention this, because even though the fish were so large, the nets were not broken.

This would seem to refer to the event Luke relates, where, because of the multitude of fish, the nets were broken.

St. Ambrose of Milan: Symbolically, the ship of Peter, according to Matthew, is battered by the waves; according to Luke, it is filled with fish, so that you might understand the Church is at first wavering, and at last abounding. The ship that holds Peter is not shaken—that is, the same ship that also holds Judas. Peter was in each, but the one who trusts in his own merits is disturbed by another’s. Let us then beware of a traitor, so that many of us are not tossed about because of one person. Trouble is found where faith is weak; safety is found where love is perfect.

Lastly, though others are commanded, Let down your nets, to Peter alone it is said, Launch out into the deep—that is, into deep theological inquiries. What is so deep as the knowledge of the Son of God? The nets of the Apostles, which they are ordered to let down, are the interweaving of words and, as it were, certain folds of speech and intricacies of argument, which never let those escape whom they have once caught. And rightly, nets are the apostolic instruments for fishing, which do not kill the fish that are caught, but keep them safe, bringing those who are tossing in the waves up from the depths below to the regions above.

But he says, Master, we have toiled the whole night and have caught nothing, for this is not the work of human eloquence but the gift of a divine calling. Yet those who had previously caught nothing, at the word of the Lord enclosed a great multitude of fishes.

St. Cyril of Alexandria: Now this was a symbol of the future. For they will not labor in vain who let down the net of gospel doctrine, but will gather the multitudes of the Gentiles.

St. Augustine of Hippo: Now, the fact that the nets were breaking, and the ships were so filled with the multitude of fish that they began to sink, signifies that there will be in the Church such a great multitude of carnal people that unity will be shattered, and it will be split into heresies and schisms.

The Venerable Bede: The net is broken, but the fish do not escape, for the Lord preserves His own amid the violence of persecutors.

St. Ambrose of Milan: But the other ship represents Judea, from which James and John are chosen. These, then, came from the synagogue to Peter's ship in the Church, so that they might fill both ships. For at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, whether Jew or Greek.

The Venerable Bede: Alternatively, the other ship is the Church of the Gentiles, which is also filled with chosen fish, since one ship was not sufficient. For the Lord knows who are His, and with Him the number of His elect is certain. And when He does not find as many believers in Judea as He knows are destined for eternal life, He seeks, as it were, another ship to receive His fish, and also fills the hearts of the Gentiles with the grace of faith.

And it is fitting that when the net broke, they called to their companions' ship for help, since the traitor Judas, Simon Magus, Ananias and Sapphira, and many of the disciples, turned back. And then Barnabas and Paul were set apart for the apostleship to the Gentiles.

St. Ambrose of Milan: We may also understand the other ship to be another Church, since several are derived from the one Church.

St. Cyril of Alexandria: But Peter beckons to his companions to help them. For many follow the labors of the Apostles: first, those who produced the writings of the Gospels; next, the other leaders and shepherds of the Church; and then those skilled in teaching the truth.

The Venerable Bede: The filling of these ships continues until the end of the world. But the fact that the ships, when filled, begin to sink—that is, they are weighed down low in the water (for they do not sink completely, but are in great danger)—the Apostle explains when he says, In the last days perilous times shall come; men shall be lovers of their own selves, etc. For the sinking of the ships represents when people, through vicious habits, fall back into the world from which they have been chosen by faith.