Event New Testament
The calling of the first disciples
Also known as Fishers of men
Beside the Sea of Galilee Jesus called two pairs of fishermen, Simon and Andrew, then James and John, to follow Him and become fishers of men, and they left their nets and their father's boat at once. John's Gospel records that Andrew and Simon had first met Jesus near the Jordan after John the Baptist pointed Him out.
Why it matters. The Kingdom begins with a summons, and the first to answer it were working men who left their livelihood on the strength of His word.
- Primary passages
- Witnesses
Chronology confidence: medium
John's Gospel records an earlier meeting by the Jordan, where Andrew and another disciple of John the Baptist follow Jesus and Andrew brings Simon; the Synoptics record the decisive call beside the Sea of Galilee, and Luke adds the miraculous catch. Most readers take these as two stages of one story.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team
Connections
Jesus announces the Kingdom precedes The calling of the first disciples
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceMatthew and Mark record the call of the fishermen directly after the first preaching.
Evidence:The calling of the first disciples precedes The wedding at Cana
Explicit in ScriptureMedium confidenceJohn places the wedding on the third day after the calling of Philip and Nathanael.
Evidence:Other responsible views
- Different sequence in the Synoptics: John's early disciples follow Jesus near the Jordan before the Galilean call the Synoptics record, so the wedding may precede the lakeside call.
Andrew participates in The calling of the first disciples
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceNamed in the Gospel accounts of the call beside the Sea of Galilee.
Evidence:James son of Zebedee participates in The calling of the first disciples
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceNamed in the Gospel accounts of the call beside the Sea of Galilee.
Evidence:Jesus participates in The calling of the first disciples
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceNamed in the Gospel accounts of the call beside the Sea of Galilee.
Evidence:John the apostle participates in The calling of the first disciples
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceNamed in the Gospel accounts of the call beside the Sea of Galilee.
Evidence:Peter participates in The calling of the first disciples
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceNamed in the Gospel accounts of the call beside the Sea of Galilee.
The calling of the first disciples occurs at Sea of Galilee
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceThe Synoptics place the call beside the Sea of Galilee, which Luke calls the Lake of Gennesaret.
Evidence:The calling of the first disciples develops the theme The Kingdom of God
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceThe call to follow comes immediately after the announcement that the kingdom is near.
Evidence: