Matthew 4:18 - Exposition

And Jesus, walking . Revised Version rightly omits "Jesus," and inserts "he" before "saw." The right reading does not detract so much from the emphatic statement of Matthew 4:17 . By the Sea of Galilee . His walk lay along the lake. Socin speaks of "the probability that there was a frequented road from the mouth of the Jordan skirting the bank of the lake." Two brethren, Simon … and Andrew his brother ; the addition, "his brother," emphasizing the relationship. Christ's coming would divide households ( Matthew 10:21 ). He would, therefore, be the more glad when members of one family united in following him. Simon , etc. (vide Matthew 10:2 , note). Called ; Revised Version, who is called ; i.e. not specially by Christ, but in common usage among Christians ( Matthew 10:2 ). Casting a net ; βάλλοντας ἀμφίβληστρον (no var. lect. ) . Probably later than and explanatory of the form found in the parallel passage, Mark 1:16 , ἀμφιβάλλοντας (alone). A net ; i.e. a casting-net of circular, bell-like shape, "which, when skilfully cast from over the shoulder by one standing on the shore or in a boat, spreads out into a circle ( ἀμφιβάλλεται ) as it falls upon the water, and then, sinking swiftly by the weight of the leads attached to it, encloses whatever is below it" (Trench, 'Syn.,' § 64.). It specializes δίκτυον , and differs from σαγήνη (the long draw-net, Matthew 13:47 ).