Mark 1:16-17

Mark 1:16-17 King James Version (KJV)
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.
17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

Mark 1:16-17 Expanded Bible (EXB)
Jesus Chooses His First Followers

16 When Jesus was walking by ·Lake Galilee [T the Sea of Galilee], he saw Simon and his brother Andrew ·throwing [casting] a net into the lake because they were fishermen. 17 Jesus said to them, “Come ·follow me [be my disciples], and I will ·make you [teach you how to] fish for people.”

Expanded Bible (EXB) The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

These are my thoughts, please share yours.

16 For fishermen this would be common and they would have done this everyday but the Sabbath. We also see in John that Andrew first saw Jesus at His baptism and he went and told Peter.

17 Jesus was going to have them catch people for Him, to convert the lost. While both were fisher men they would become more known because of their call for Christ. We need to follow His call for us.

I take it that you are referring to the alluring symbolism of the parable that draws those that the purpose the Son of God was manifested could be fulfilled by as written of in 1 John 3:8 since in Mark 1:12-13, it is written after his baptism that immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. However in John 1:35-37 it is written that Andrew, a disciple of John (verse 40-41) followed Jesus from his baptism;

35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

And thus on the third day after his baptism, in John 2;1 we find Jesus in Cana in Galilee turning water into wine while the other texts show him in the wilderness fasting forty days and forty nights. Afterwards when as written in Matt 4:3, "And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread."

About following His call to us:

It is when we have saturated ourselves with God's Word, spent hours in His presence, and received His love unconditionally, that He moves people into our lives. When we are ready.

The chief priests, as well as the Pharisees and Sadducees knew about and had attended these baptisms before the baptism of Jesus.

Look at the at John 1 again,

Again, the other texts clearly indicate the chief priests and others already knew about John baptizing in the wilderness beyond Jordan. And thus, beginning in verse 28 speaks of the baptism of Jesus.


So how do you reconcile the account of John 1:40-42 and Matt 4:18-20, it might help you understand why it is written, Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

like this:

in John ((the apostle)) 1:35-37, two of the disciples of John ((the baptizer)) followed Jesus.

((not Andrew and Simon Peter, but Andrew and another person))

they didn't start following Him everywhere He went at that time - obviously, since they went to find Simon Peter. what is described in Matthew must have happened later - not the first time they had met Him.

Right, Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist and if I gave you the impression that Simon was the other disciple of John that followed Jesus from Bethabara, I surely didn't mean to.

However, did I intend to give the impression that there is a contradiction of scripture, yes. And why did I intend to give the impression that there contradiction, because that is where one can began hearing the Spirit of truth since for he that comes to God must believe he is, and he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.

"Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? ...." John 1:38

So do you think the person who was with Andrew knew that Jesus of Nazareth didn't live in Galilee?

The passage continues with, "They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour." However, Andrew first went to get his brother Simon.


So if they abode with Jesus that day, and as written, "The next day Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. .John 1:43

The fact as you say is that John and his two disciples, one being Andrew, saw Jesus walking the day after his baptism. While some are not able to really grasp what was occurring in the wilderness, however Jesus even commented on it in Luke 7:24-26. Yet other things one might consider is the presence of Roman soldiers within the perspective given in Matthew 13:41-42, as well as the verse in Matthew 3:10.

24 And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John,
What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
25 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.
26 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.
Luke 7:24-26