Gospel of Mark Chapter 1 Vs. 16

 Jesus Calls the First Disciples

Mark 1:16 “Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.”

Now as he... First of Christ’s disciples (John 1:33-42). He returned to his fishing until his call with his brother Peter (Mat. 4:18; Mark 1:17). He became one of the 12 apostles (Mat. 10:2; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14; Acts 1:13). Mentioned in Mark 1:29; 13:3; John 6:8; 12:22. Tradition says he was of the tribe of Reuben, that he evangelized Scythia becoming Russia’s patron saint, and that he was stoned and crucified in Greece or Scythia.

sea of Galilee... Also known as the Sea of Chinnereth (Num. 34:11), the Lake of Gennesaret (Luke 5:1), and the Sea of Tiberias (John 6:1). A large, freshwater lake about 13 miles long and 7 miles wide, and about 690 feet below sea level (making it the lowest body of fresh water on earth) The Sea of Galilee was home to a thriving fishing industry.

The sea (τήν θάλασσαν)

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 Königsee, the Trauensee. So, also, in Holland we have the Zuyder Zee. The Latin mare (the sea) likewise becomes meet in Holland, and is used of a lake, as Haarlemmer Meer; and in England, mere, as appears in Windermere, Grasmere, etc.

He saw Simon... The first of two sets of brothers Jesus called to follow Him. Like James and John, they were fishermen. Since Andrew had been a follower of John the Baptist (John 1:40), it is possible that Peter had been as well.

They had evidently returned to their fishing business after John’s arrest (see verse 14). They had already met and spent time with Jesus (see Mat. 4:18), but were here called to follow Him permanently.

Casting a net... A rope forming a circle about 9 feet in diameter with a net attached It could be thrown by hand into the water, then hauled in by means of the length of weighted rope attached to it.

A net (ἀμφίβληστρον)

From ἀμφὶ, around, and Βάλλω, to throw. Hence the casting-net, which, being east over the shoulder, spreads into a circle (ἀμφὶ). The word is sometimes used by classical Greek writers to denote a garment which encompasses the wearer. In Mat. 4:20, the word net again occurs, but representing a different Greek word (δίκτυον) which is the general name for all kinds of nets, whether for taking fish or fowl. Still another word occurs at Mat. 13:47, σαγήνη, the draw-net.

And passing along by the sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishers.

Jesus’ call of four fishermen

Jesus’ call of four fishermen, to be His followers comes immediately after the summary of His message. So Mark made clear that to repent and believe in the gospel (Mark 1:15) is to break with one’s old way of life and to follow Jesus, to make a personal commitment to Him in response to His call. With this call Jesus began His work in Galilee. This anticipated His appointing and sending out the Twelve (Mark 3:13-19; 6:7-13, 6:30).

The Sea (a Semitic label) of Galilee, a warm-water lake about 7 miles wide, 13 miles long, and 685 feet below sea level, was the scene of a thriving fishing industry. It was geographically central to Jesus’ Galilean ministry.

As He was walking along the shore, Jesus… saw Simon (surnamed Peter) and Andrew, his brother, each throwing out a circular casting net (10-15 feet diameter) into the lake. The significant thing about this, Mark explained (gar, for), is that they were fishermen by trade.