Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 5:3

"And he entered into one of the boats, which was Simon`s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the multitudes out of the boat." — Luke 5:3 (ASV)

Luke begins this story mentioning the pressure of the crowds, as he occasionally does elsewhere (8:42, 45; 19:3). Their attention is on the “word of God” spoken by Jesus. The shore of the lake provided an excellent, acoustically serviceable amphitheater. Luke, being observant of detail, draws our attention to two boats, and then singles out Simon as the owner of one of them. Jesus gets into the boat and again teaches, his voice carrying across the water to the crowds.