And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
Parallel translations
- WEB They immediately left their nets and followed him.
- BSB And at once they left their nets and followed Him.
- NKJV They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
- NASB Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.
- NLT And they left their nets at once and followed him.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Peter and Andrew immediately leave their nets and follow Jesus. It shows the prompt, wholehearted obedience that Jesus' call evokes.
Overview
Their instant response, abandoning livelihood and security, illustrates the supreme claim of Christ on a disciple's life. Such obedience flows not from compulsion but from the compelling authority and grace of the One who calls. It sets a pattern of trusting, immediate surrender to Jesus.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Mark 10:28–31Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
- Matt 19:27Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
- Ps 119:60I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.
- Luke 18:28–30Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
- 1 Kgs 19:21And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
- Matt 10:37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
- Gal 1:16To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 4:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.