Matthew 4:18 is the eighteenth verse of the fourth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament. Jesus has just begun preaching in Galilee. In this verse he encounters the first of his disciples.

In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads:

And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee,

saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and

Andrew his brother, casting a net

into the sea: for they were fishers.

The World English Bible translates the passage as:

Walking 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.

Matthew 4:13 has Jesus living in the town of Capernaum, by the Sea of Galilee. However, the other Gospels and the rest of Matthew imply that Jesus was an itinerant preacher at this point, something France feels is implied by the reference to Jesus walking.

This verse introduces two of Jesus' most important followers the brothers Simon and Andrew, both of these figures play an important role in the Gospels and are given prominent roles by almost all Christian churches. Schweizer notes that, unlike Mark, Matthew immediately mentions that Peter is an alternate name for Simon. Schweizer feels this is because Matthew's audience would have been well aware of the stories of the disciple

The name Simon is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Shimeon, a common Jewish name that Albright and Mann note is found in the Old Testament and in Josephus. Both Andrew and Peter are names of Greek origins which France sees as an accurate reflection of the multicultural nature of the Galilee at this time. Albright and Mann note that evidence for Andrew being used as a name for a Jew dates back to 169 BC.

France notes that the Sea of Galilee at the time was known for its prosperous fishing industry. This was mainly based around fishing for sardines, carp, and musht fish. Various methods were used, but nets were common. Dragnets were common, but they required a large team to use. This verse is thus more likely referring to some form of gill net.

References

• Albright, W.F. and C.S. Mann. "Matthew." The Anchor Bible Series. New York: Doubleday & Company, 1971.
• France, R.T. The Gospel According to Matthew: an Introduction and Commentary. Leicester: Inter-Varsity, 1985.
• Schweizer, Eduard. The Good News According to Matthew. Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1975