The Call of the First Disciples
Luke 5:1-11
Luke.5.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Εγενετο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- οχλον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- επικεισθαι: VERB,pres,mid,inf
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ακουειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- λογον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- αυτος: PRON,nom,sg,3,m
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- εστως: PART,perf,act,nom,sg,m
- παρα: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- λιμνην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- Γεννησαρετ: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Mark 4:1-2 (verbal): Jesus teaches by the sea and the crowd gathers; Mark explicitly records Jesus entering a boat to teach the people from the water, closely paralleling Luke's scene-setting of Jesus at the lake with the crowd pressing to hear.
- Matthew 13:1-2 (structural): Matthew likewise places Jesus by the sea where large crowds assemble and he teaches from a boat; similar narrative arrangement (shore, sea, crowd, teaching) as Luke 5:1.
- Mark 1:16-20 (thematic): The calling of Simon Peter and Andrew at the Sea of Galilee/shore provides the same geographical and fishing-community context as Luke's setting by the lake of Gennesaret (Luke 5 goes on to call Peter), linking location and vocation.
- John 6:1-3 (thematic): A great crowd follows Jesus because of his signs and seeks to hear him by the sea/shore after he crosses the water—echoing the motif of multitudes gathering at the lakeshore to listen to Jesus in Luke 5:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- And it came to pass, while the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret.
- And while the crowd pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood beside the lake of Gennesaret.
Luke.5.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ειδεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- δυο: NUM,acc,pl,m
- πλοια: NOUN,nom,pl,n
- εστωτα: PART,perf,act,masc,acc,pl
- παρα: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- λιμνην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- αλιεις: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- απ᾽αυτων: PREP+PRON,gen,pl,3
- αποβαντες: PART,aor,act,masc,nom,pl
- επλυνον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- δικτυα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
Parallels
- Matthew 4:18-22 (structural): Parallel calling scene: Jesus encounters fishermen by the sea and summons them to follow him—same basic setting of boats and fishermen as the backdrop to the call.
- Mark 1:16-20 (verbal): Very close Synoptic parallel to Matthew and Luke: fishermen in/near boats are called; Mark likewise emphasizes nets and boats in the calling narrative.
- Mark 1:19 (verbal): Specific verbal parallel about fishermen in a boat attending to their nets (mending/working the nets), closely corresponding to Luke's detail of fishermen handling/washing nets.
- John 21:3-6 (thematic): Post-resurrection fishing scene on the lake: fishermen in boats, nets and a miraculous catch—themewise echo of boats, nets and Jesus' activity among fishermen.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he saw two boats standing by the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.
- And he saw two boats standing by the lake; and the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.
Luke.5.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εμβας: PART,aor,act,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- εις: PREP
- εν: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- πλοιων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- Σιμωνος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ηρωτησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- απο: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- επαναγαγειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- ολιγον: ADV
- καθισας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
- δε: CONJ
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πλοιου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εδιδασκεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- οχλους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Mark 4:1 (verbal): Very close verbal parallel: Jesus enters a boat and sits in it to teach the crowds gathered along the shore (same scene of teaching from a boat).
- Matthew 13:2 (verbal): Parallel account of Jesus getting into a boat and sitting while the multitudes stood on the shore as he taught (verbal and situational correspondence to Luke 5:3).
- Mark 3:9-10 (structural): Shows the recurring strategy of using a boat as a teaching platform because the crowd pressed around Jesus—same functional reason for Jesus boarding a boat in Luke 5:3.
- Luke 8:22 (structural): Same Gospel motif of Jesus entering a boat with his disciples; links the setting of sea/boat scenes in Luke and underscores Luke's use of boats for travel and instruction.
- Matthew 5:1-2 (thematic): Shares the Jewish teaching posture motif—Jesus 'went up, sat down, and opened his mouth' to teach—paralleling Luke 5:3's note that he sat and taught the crowds.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he entered into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the shore. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
- He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
Luke.5.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ως: ADV
- δε: CONJ
- επαυσατο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- λαλων: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- προς: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- Σιμωνα·Επαναγαγε: PROPN,acc,sg,m|VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- βαθος: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- χαλασατε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- δικτυα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- εις: PREP
- αγραν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- John 21:6 (verbal): Jesus again commands the disciples to cast the net (on the right side), resulting in a miraculous large catch—parallel instruction and outcome to Luke 5:4–7.
- Luke 5:10 (verbal): Immediate narrative consequence: Jesus uses the fishing episode to tell Simon Peter that from now on he will 'catch men'—direct thematic link between casting nets and mission.
- Matthew 4:18–20 (thematic): Calling of Simon Peter and Andrew, fishermen called to follow Jesus and become 'fishers of men'—shares the fishing imagery and vocational transformation.
- Mark 1:16–18 (thematic): Parallel account to Matthew of Jesus calling fishermen, reinforcing the fishing/discipleship motif connected to Luke 5:4.
- Matthew 13:47 (thematic): Parable of the net used as an image for the kingdom of heaven—echoes the symbolic meaning of nets and catches present in Luke 5:4.
Alternative generated candidates
- When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water, and let down your nets for a catch.”
- When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
Luke.5.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- αποκριθεις: VERB,aor,pass,ptc,nom,sg,m
- Σιμων: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ειπεν·Επιστατα: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- δι᾽ολης: PREP
- νυκτος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- κοπιασαντες: PART,aor,act,nom,pl,m
- ουδεν: PRON,acc,sg,n
- ελαβομεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,pl
- επι: PREP
- δε: CONJ
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ρηματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- χαλασω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- δικτυα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
Parallels
- John 21:6 (verbal): After a fruitless night of fishing, Jesus tells the disciples to cast the net (on the right side) and they haul in a great catch — parallels Luke 5:5–6 in the motif and wording of obeying Jesus' word to let down the nets.
- Mark 1:16-20 (structural): Mark records the calling of Simon and Andrew as fishermen who leave their nets to follow Jesus; structurally parallels Luke’s scene of Jesus calling fishermen and directing their work, though Mark omits the detailed miraculous catch.
- Matthew 4:18-22 (thematic): Matthew narrates Jesus’ call of Peter and Andrew while they are casting nets and their immediate response to follow — thematically parallel in the calling of fishermen and the renunciation of their fishing occupation.
- Luke 5:6 (structural): The immediate sequel in the same pericope: when they let down the nets at Jesus’ word they catch a great number of fish — directly parallels and completes the action anticipated in 5:5 (obedience to Jesus’ command → miraculous catch).
Alternative generated candidates
- Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night and have taken nothing; nevertheless at your word I will let down the nets.”
- Simon answered, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless, at your word I will let down the nets.”
Luke.5.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- τουτο: PRON,nom,sg,n
- ποιησαντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- συνεκλεισαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- πληθος: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- ιχθυων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- πολυ: ADV
- διερρησσετο: VERB,impf,mp,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- δικτυα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- John 21:6 (verbal): After the resurrection Jesus tells the disciples to cast the net and they haul in a great number of fish—language and miracle of a sudden, abundant catch parallels Luke’s description of many fish and the nets straining/breaking.
- John 21:11 (structural): The post-resurrection catch yields a specific, overwhelming haul (153 fish) and emphasizes the miraculous abundance and the disciples’ astonishment, paralleling Luke’s motif of a large, unexpected catch.
- Matthew 4:18-20 (thematic): Jesus calls Simon Peter and Andrew while they are fishing, and they immediately leave their nets to follow him; thematically linked to Luke’s fishing miracle which precipitates Simon’s call and response.
- Mark 1:16-18 (thematic): Mark’s account of Jesus calling fishermen (Simon and Andrew, James and John) echoes the same pattern—fishing, nets, and the immediate leaving of nets to follow—providing a parallel context for Luke’s miraculous catch.
Alternative generated candidates
- And when they had done this, they enclosed a very large number of fish; and their nets began to break.
- And when they had done this, they enclosed a great number of fish, and their nets began to break.
Luke.5.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- κατενευσαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- μετοχοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ετερω: ADJ,dat,sg,m
- πλοιω: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ελθοντας: PART,aor,acc,pl,m
- συλλαβεσθαι: VERB,pres,mid/pass,inf
- αυτοις·και: PRON,dat,pl,m
- ηλθον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- και: CONJ
- επλησαν: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,pl
- αμφοτερα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- πλοια: NOUN,nom,pl,n
- ωστε: CONJ
- βυθιζεσθαι: VERB,pres,mid/pass,inf
- αυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
Parallels
- Luke 5:4-6 (verbal): Immediate context: Jesus tells Simon to launch into the deep and let down the nets, they catch such a haul that their nets begin to break—direct lead-in to v.7 (same episode).
- John 21:6-11 (structural): A later post‑resurrection miraculous catch: Jesus directs the disciples to cast on the right side; they haul in a huge catch and bring it to the boats—strong narrative parallel in sequence and outcome (boats, overflowing catch, hauling fish).
- Matthew 4:18-22 (thematic): Jesus calls fishermen (Simon, Andrew, James, John) to become fishers of men; linked thematically to the fishing miracle as the backdrop and symbol for discipleship and vocational calling.
- Mark 1:16-20 (thematic): Parallel Synoptic account of Jesus calling fishermen who immediately leave their nets—connects the imagery of nets, boats, and leaving a fishing livelihood to follow Jesus, echoing the significance of the miraculous catch in Luke 5.
Alternative generated candidates
- They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink.
- They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink.
Luke.5.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ιδων: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- Σιμων: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- Πετρος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- προσεπεσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- γονασιν: NOUN,dat,pl,n
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- λεγων·Εξελθε: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m+VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- απ᾽εμου: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,1
- οτι: CONJ
- ανηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- αμαρτωλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ειμι: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- κυριε·: NOUN,voc,sg,m
Parallels
- Isaiah 6:5 (allusion): Isaiah, seeing the holy LORD, cries 'Woe is me... for I am a man of unclean lips' — a confession of unworthiness in the presence of divine holiness that echoes Peter's 'I am a sinful man.'
- Job 42:6 (thematic): Job responds to God's revelation by humbling himself and repenting ('I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes'), paralleling Peter's self-abasement before Jesus.
- Revelation 1:17 (thematic): John falls at Jesus' feet 'as dead' and is then comforted ('Do not be afraid'); both scenes feature falling prostrate before a divine figure and an implied response to divine authority.
- Luke 8:28 (structural): The Gadarene demoniac falls before Jesus and cries out, recognizing his power—a similar narrative moment of falling prostrate and acknowledging Jesus' authority.
Alternative generated candidates
- But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
- But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
Luke.5.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- θαμβος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- γαρ: PART
- περιεσχεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- παντας: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- συν: PREP
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- επι: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- αγρα: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- ιχθυων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- ων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- συνελαβον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Luke 5:4-7 (structural): Immediate context: Jesus tells Simon to put out into deep water and let down the nets; the subsequent great catch leads to the astonishment mentioned in v.9.
- John 21:6-11 (verbal): Post‑resurrection miraculous catch of fish after Jesus' command; parallels the large catch, the hauling of the net, and the disciples' amazed response.
- Mark 1:16-20 (thematic): Calling of Simon Peter and Andrew (and later James and John) from their fishing vocation—shares the motif of fishermen encountering Jesus and receiving a decisive summons.
- Matthew 4:18-22 (thematic): Parallel calling narrative to Matthew and Mark: fishermen leave nets/boats to follow Jesus, echoing the vocational turning point initiated in Luke's fishing episode.
Alternative generated candidates
- For astonishment seized him and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken;
- For astonishment had seized them all, and also those who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken;
Luke.5.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ομοιως: ADV
- δε: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- Ιακωβον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- Ιωαννην: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- υιους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- Ζεβεδαιου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- ησαν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- κοινωνοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- Σιμωνι: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- προς: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- Σιμωνα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους·Μη: PROPN,nom,sg,m
- φοβου·απο: VERB,pres,mid,imp,2,sg
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- νυν: ADV
- ανθρωπους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- εση: VERB,fut,act,ind,2,sg
- ζωγρων: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 1:16-20 (verbal): Parallel calling scene: Jesus summons Simon, Andrew, James and John and says he will make them 'fishers of men' (verbal and thematic agreement with 'from now on you will catch men').
- Matthew 4:18-22 (verbal): Matthew's account of the same calling uses identical language ('Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men'), reinforcing the fishing-to-discipleship metaphor found in Luke 5:10.
- John 21:1-11 (thematic): Post‑resurrection miraculous catch and recognition of Jesus; continues the fishing imagery and connects Peter, James and John with Jesus' vocational call and mission to gather people.
- Luke 5:1-11 (structural): Immediate Lukan context (the fuller calling story): the miraculous catch of fish, Peter's confession and Jesus' commissioning language that culminates in verse 10's promise to make them 'catchers of men.'
- Luke 6:13-16 (allusion): Lukan list of the twelve apostles that names James and John, sons of Zebedee, alluding back to their calling and partnership with Simon Peter described in Luke 5:10.
Alternative generated candidates
- and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”
- and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”
Luke.5.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- καταγαγοντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,pl
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- πλοια: NOUN,nom,pl,n
- επι: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- γην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αφεντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- ηκολουθησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Matthew 4:18-22 (structural): Synoptic parallel: Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John while they are fishing; they immediately leave nets/boats and follow him, matching Luke’s scene and action.
- Mark 1:16-20 (structural): Another close Synoptic account of the same calling of the fishermen; language and sequence (leaving nets/boats and following Jesus) correspond closely to Luke 5:11.
- Luke 5:27-28 (verbal): Within the same chapter, the call of Levi uses essentially the same wording (‘they left everything and followed him’), a direct verbal parallel emphasizing total abandonment to follow Jesus.
- Mark 10:28 (thematic): After the encounter with the rich young man, Peter’s remark ‘we have left everything and followed you’ echoes Luke 5:11’s theme of leaving all possessions and ties to follow Jesus.
Alternative generated candidates
- And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
- And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
Now it came to pass, while the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, that he stood beside the Lake of Gennesaret. And he saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to push off a little way from the shore. He sat down and taught the people from the boat.
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."
Simon answered, "Master, we have toiled all night and have taken nothing; nevertheless, at your word I will let down the nets." And when they had done this they enclosed a very large number of fish, and their nets began to break.
They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; and they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink.
When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."
For amazement and fear had seized him and all who were with him at the catch of fish which they had taken;
and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.