Jesus Calls His First Disciples
James Tissot (French, 1836-1902). The Calling of Saint Peter and Saint Andrew, 1886-1894. Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper. Brooklyn Museum, New York.
All four gospel writers report that the first disciples to follow Jesus were Andrew and Simon Peter, fishermen by trade.
Matthew, Mark and Luke describe a simple encounter and an astounding readiness on the part of the fishermen to leave their nets behind and go with Jesus.
“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.”
Christ calls Peter and Andrew to be his disciples. Mosaic. Sant'Apollinare Nouvo, Ravenna, Italy. Sixth century.
Duccio di Buoninsegna, Sienese, c. 1250/1255 - 1318/1319. The Calling of the Apostles Peter and Andrew, 1308-1311. Tempera on panel.
John's account differs in how the two first disciples met Jesus:
“The next day John [the Baptist] was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”
”Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).
Then he brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).”
James Tissot (French, 1836-1902). The Calling of Saint John and Saint Andrew (Vocation de Saint Jean et de Saint André), 1886-1894. Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper. Brooklyn Museum, New York.
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