Meaning, commentary and cross references
Matthew 4:19
“And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
NIV · New International Version
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
WEB · World English Bible
He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.”
What does Matthew 4:19 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Matthew 4:19
And he saith unto them, follow me,.... These two brethren had been the disciples of John, as Theophylact thinks, and which seems agreeable to John 1:35 and though through John's pointing out Christ unto them, they had some knowledge of him, and conversation with him, yet they abode with him but for that day, John 1:37 and afterwards returned to their master; and upon his imprisonment, betook themselves to their former employment: from whence Christ now calls them to be his disciples, saying "follow me", or "come after me": that is, be a disciple of mine; see Luke 14:27. And to encourage them to it, makes use of this argument; "and", or "for", I "will make you fishers of men": you shall be…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Matthew 4:16–22 (WEB)
16the people who sat in darkness saw a great light; to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, to them light has dawned.” 17From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” 18Walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.” 20They immediately left their nets and followed him. 21Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them. 22They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him.
Cross references
- Mark 1:17–18
Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men.”
- John 12:26
If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there my servant will also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
- Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
- Luke 9:59
He said to another, “Follow me!” But he said, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.”
- John 1:43
On the next day, he was determined to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
- John 21:22
Jesus said to him, “If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.”
- Luke 5:27
After these things he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and said to him, “Follow me!”
- Mark 2:14
As he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he arose and followed him.