Church Fathers Commentary Mark 1:16-20

"And passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in 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 left the nets, and followed him. And going on a little further, he saw James the [son] of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending the nets. And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him." — Mark 1:16-20 (ASV)

Glossa Ordinaria: The Evangelist, having mentioned Christ’s preaching to the multitude, now moves on to the calling of the disciples, whom He made ministers of His preaching. This is why the text continues, “And passing along the sea of Galilee, etc.”

Theophylact of Ohrid: As the Evangelist John relates, Peter and Andrew were disciples of the Forerunner, but seeing that John had testified about Jesus, they joined Him. Afterward, grieving that John had been thrown into prison, they returned to their trade.

Therefore, the text says, “casting nets into the sea, for they were fishers.”

Consider them, then, living by their own labor, not on the fruits of iniquity, for such men were worthy to become the first disciples of Christ. This is why it is added, “And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after Me.”

Now, He calls them for a second time; this is the second calling, distinct from the one we read about in John’s Gospel. It shows what they were called to when it adds, “I will make you become fishers of men.”

Remigius of Auxerre: By the net of holy preaching, they drew fish—that is, men—from the depths of the sea—that is, from infidelity—to the light of faith. This fishing is truly wonderful! For when fish are caught, they soon die; but when men are caught by the word of preaching, they are instead brought to life.

The Venerable Bede: Now, fishermen and uneducated men are sent to preach so that the faith of believers would be seen to rest on the power of God, not on eloquence or learning. The passage continues, “and immediately they left their nets, and followed Him.” ¹

Theophylact of Ohrid: For we must not delay, but immediately follow the Lord. After this, He calls James and John, because they also, though poor, were supporting their elderly father.

Therefore, the text continues, “And when He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James, the son of Zebedee, etc.”

They left their father because he would have hindered them from following Christ. You, also, when you are hindered by your parents, should leave them and come to God. This shows that Zebedee was not a believer, but the mother of the Apostles believed, for she followed Christ after Zebedee was dead.

The Venerable Bede: It may be asked how Mark could say that Jesus called two fishermen from each boat—first, Peter and Andrew, and then, a little farther on, the two sons of Zebedee. This seems to conflict with Luke’s account, where James and John were called to help Peter and Andrew. Luke also states that it was only to Peter that Christ said, “Fear not, from this time thou shalt catch men” (Luke 5:10), and that “when they had brought their ships to land, they followed Him.”

We must therefore understand that the event Luke describes happened first, after which they returned to their fishing, as was their custom. Therefore, what Mark relates here happened later. In this instance, they followed the Lord without bringing their boats to shore (which they would have done if they intended to return), following Him as one who was calling and commanding them to come.

Pseudo-Jerome: Furthermore, we are mystically carried away to heaven, like Elijah, by this chariot drawn by these fishermen as if by four horses. On these four cornerstones the first Church is built. In them, as in the four Hebrew letters, we acknowledge the Tetragrammaton, the name of the Lord.

Following their example, we are commanded to “hear” the voice of the Lord and to “forget” the people of wickedness and “the house of our fathers” (Psalm 45:10). We must leave behind our former way of life, which is foolishness before God. This old life is like a spider’s web, in whose mesh we, like gnats, had nearly fallen, confined by things as empty as the air, which hangs on nothing. We must also loathe the vessel of our former journey.

For Adam, our forefather according to the flesh, is clothed with the skins of dead animals. But now, having put off the old man with his deeds and following the new man, we are clothed with those skins of Solomon, with which the bride rejoices that she has been made beautiful (Song of Songs 1:4).

Again, the names themselves have meaning: Simon means “obedient”; Andrew, “manly” or “courageous”; James, “supplanter”ⁱ; and John, “grace.” By these four names, we are united into God’s armyⁱ: by obedience, so that we may listen; by courage, so that we may do battle; by supplanting, so that we may persevere; and by grace, so that we may be preserved.

These four are also called the cardinal virtues. For by prudence, we obey; by justice, we conduct ourselves courageously; by temperance, we trample the serpent underfoot; and by fortitude, we obtain the grace of God.

Theophylact of Ohrid: We must also know that action is called first, then contemplation. For Peter is the type of the active life, as he was more ardent than the others, just as the active life is more bustling. John, however, is the type of the contemplative life, for he speaks more profoundly about divine things.

1. in Marc., 1, 6