SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:18
¶ Y andando Jess junto al mar de Galilea, vio a dos hermanos, Simn, que es llamado Pedro, y Andrs su hermano, que echaban la red en el mar; porque eran pescadores.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 4:18
Verse 18. Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother] Why did not Jesus Christ call some of the eminent Scribes or Pharisees to publish his Gospel, and not poor unlearned fishermen, without credit or authority? Because it was the kingdom of heaven they were to preach, and their teaching must come from above: besides, the conversion of sinners, though it be effected instrumentally by the preaching of the Gospel, yet the grand agent in it is the Spirit of God. As the instruments were comparatively mean, and, the work which was accomplished by them was grand and glorious, the excellency of the power at once appeared to be of GOD, and not of man; and thus the glory, due alone to his name, was secured, and the great Operator of all good had the deserved praise. Seminaries of learning, in the order of God's providence and grace, have great and important uses; and, in reference to such uses, they should be treated with great respect: but to make preachers of the Gospel is a matter to which they are utterly inadequate; it is a, prerogative that God never did, and never will, delegate to man. Where the seed of the kingdom of God is sowed, and a dispensation of the Gospel is committed to a man, a good education may be of great and general use: but it no more follows, because a man has had a good education, that therefore he is qualified to preach the Gospel, than it does, that because he has not had that, therefore he is unqualified; for there may be much ignorance of Divine things where there is much human learning; and a man may be well taught in the things of God, and be able to teach others, who has not had the advantages of a liberal education.
Men-made ministers have almost ruined the heritage of God. To prevent this, our Church requires that a man be inwardly moved to take upon himself this ministry, before he can be ordained to it. And he who cannot say, that he trusts (has rational and Scriptural conviction) that he is moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon himself this office, is an intruder into the heritage of God, and his ordination, ipso facto, vitiated and of none effect. See the truly apostolic Ordination Service of the Church of England.
Fishers.] Persons employed in a lawful and profitable avocation, and faithfully discharging their duty in it. It was a tradition of the elders, that one of Joshua's ten precepts was, that all men should have an equal right to spread their nets and fish in the sea of Tiberias, or Galilee. The persons mentioned here were doubtless men of pure morals; for the minister of God should have a good report from them that are without.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 18-22 - When Christ began to preach, he began to gather disciples, who shoul be hearers, and afterwards preachers of his doctrine, who should be witnesses of his miracles, and afterwards testify concerning them. He went not to Herod's court, not to Jerusalem, among the chief priest and the elders, but to the sea of Galilee, among the fishermen. The same power which called Peter and Andrew, could have wrought upon Anna and Caiaphas, for with God nothing is impossible. But Christ choose the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. Diligence in a honest calling is pleasing to Christ, and it is no hinderance to a holy life. Idle people are more open to the temptations of Satan than to the calls of God. It is a happy and hopeful thing to see children carefu of their parents, and dutiful. When Christ comes, it is good to be found doing. Am I in Christ? is a very needful question to as ourselves; and, next to that, Am I in my calling? They had followe Christ before, as common disciples, Joh 1:37; now they must leave their calling. Those who would follow Christ aright, must, at his command leave all things to follow him, must be ready to part with them. Thi instance of the power of the Lord Jesus encourages us to depend upo his grace. He speaks, and it is done.
Greek Textus Receptus
περιπατων 4043 5723 V-PAP-NSM δε 1161 CONJ ο 3588 T-NSM ιησους 2424 N-NSM παρα 3844 PREP την 3588 T-ASF θαλασσαν 2281 N-ASF της 3588 T-GSF γαλιλαιας 1056 N-GSF ειδεν 1492 5627 V-2AAI-3S δυο 1417 A-NUI αδελφους 80 N-APM σιμωνα 4613 N-ASM τον 3588 T-ASM λεγομενον 3004 5746 V-PPP-ASM πετρον 4074 N-ASM και 2532 CONJ ανδρεαν 406 N-ASM τον 3588 T-ASM αδελφον 80 N-ASM αυτου 846 P-GSM βαλλοντας 906 5723 V-PAP-APM αμφιβληστρον 293 N-ASN εις 1519 PREP την 3588 T-ASF θαλασσαν 2281 N-ASF ησαν 2258 5713 V-IXI-3P γαρ 1063 CONJ αλιεις 231 N-NPM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
18. The sea (thn qalassan). The small lake of Gennesaret, only thirteen miles long and six wide in its broadest part, is called the sea, by the same kind of popular usage by which Swiss and German lakes are called See; as the Konigsee, the Trauensee. So, also, in Holland we have the Zuyder Zee. The Latin mare (the sea) likewise becomes meer in Holland, and is used of a lake, as Haarlemmer Meer; and in England, mere, as appears in Windermere, Grasmere, etc.A net (amfiblhstron). From ajmfi, around, and ballw, to throw. Hence the casting-net, which, being cast over the shoulder, spreads into a circle (amfi). The word is sometimes used by classical Greek writers to denote a garment which encompasses the wearer. In ver. 20, the word net again occurs, but representing a different Greek word (diktuon) which is the general name for all kinds of nets, whether for taking fish or fowl. Still another word occurs at Matt. xiii. 47, saghnh, the draw-net. See farther on that passage.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
4:18 {Casting a net into the sea} (ballantas amfiblestron eis ten qalassan). The word here for net is a casting-net (compare amfiballw in #Mr 1:16, casting on both sides). The net was thrown over the shoulder and spread into a circle (amfi). In #4:20 and #4:21 another word occurs for nets (diktua), a word used for nets of any kind. The large drag-net (sagn) appears in #Mt 13:47.
