Matthew Chapter 4, Verses 18-22
3. "And walking by the sea of Galilee, He saw two brethren, Simon
that was surnamed Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the
sea; for they were fishers. And He saith unto them, Come ye after me, and
I will make you fishers of men. And they left their nets, and followed
Him." And yet John saith that they were called in another manner. Whence
it is evident that this was a second call; and from many things one may
perceive this. For there it is said, that they came to Him when "John was
not yet cast into prison;" but here, after he was in confinement. And there
Andrew calls Peter, but here Jesus calls both. And John saith, Jesus seeing
Simon coming, saith, "Thou an Simon, the Son of Jona, thou shalt be called
Cephas, which is by interpretation, a stone." But Matthew saith that he
was already called by that name; for his words are, "Seeing Simon that
was called Peter" And from the place whence they were called, and from
many other things, one may perceive this; and from their ready obedience,
and abandonment of all. For now they were well instructed beforehand. Thus,
in the other case, Andrew is seen coming into His house, and hearing many
things; but here, having heard one bare word, they followed immediately.
Since nether was it unnatural for them to follow Him at the beginning,
and then leave Him again and return anew to their own craft, when they
saw both John thrown into prison, and Himself departing. Accordingly you
see that He finds them actually fishing. But He neither forbad them at
the first when minded to withdraw, nor having withdrawn themselves, did
He let them go altogether; but He gave way when they started aside from
Him, and comes again to win them back; which kind of thing is the great
point in fishing.
But mark both their faith, and their obedience. For though they were
in the midst of their work (and ye know how greedy a thing fishing is),
when they heard His command. they delayed not, they procrastinated not,
they said not, "let us return home, and converse with our kinsfolk," but
"they forsook all and followed," even as Elisha did to Elijah" Because
such is the obedience which Christ seeks of us, as that we delay not even
a moment of time, though something absolutely most needful should vehemently
press on us. Wherefore also when some other had come unto Him, and was
asking leave to bury his own father, not even this did He permit him to
do: to signify that before all we ought to esteem the following of Himself.
But if thou should say, "the promise is very great;" even for this do
I most admire them, for that when they had not as yet seen any sign, they
believed in so great a reach of promise, and accounted all but second to
that attendance. And this, because they believed that by what words they
were caught, by the same they would be able to catch others also.
To these, then, such was His promise: but to James and John He sixth
no such thing. For the obedience of those that had gone before had by this
time paved the way for these. And besides they had also heard many things
before concerning Him.
And see how he doth with exact care intimate unto us their poverty also:
in that He found them sewing up their nets. So exceeding great was their
poverty, that they were mending what was worn out, not being able to buy
others. And this too was for the time no small proof of virtue, their beating
poverty with ease, their supporting themselves by honest labor, their being
bound one to another by the power of love, their having their father with
them, and attending upon them.
