Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 1:17

"And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men." — Mark 1:17 (ASV)

Mark says nothing of a previous encounter of these two disciples with Jesus (cf. Jn 1:35-42). Rather, Jesus called Simon and Andrew to the urgent task of rescuing people from the impending judgment that the coming of the kingdom in the person and work of Jesus presages. The urgency demands a response. “At once” the two fishermen left their nets and followed him (see comment on Mt 4:18–20).