Luke 5:1

It came to pass. [The Call by the Sea, Luke 5:1-11 = Matt. 4:18-22 = Mark 1:16-20. Major comment: Luke. See Early Galilean Ministry; The Ministry of Our Lord; on miracles pp. 208-213.] Luke records, out of its natural order, the call of Peter, Andrew, James, and John by the Lake of Galilee. Chronologically, this account (vs. 1-11) belongs between vs. 32 and 33 of ch. 4 (see on Matt. 4:23). Luke’s reason for so placing it, apparently, is his desire to group the two instances of synagogue preaching together, the one in Nazareth (Luke 4:16-30) and the other in Capernaum (vs. 31-37), and to link the call of the disciples (ch. 5:1-11) with his account of the first preaching tour through Galilee (vs. 12-15).

Pressed. In view of the apparent similarities between the incident here related and that of John 21:1-17, some commentators have concluded that the two accounts are different versions of the same event. However, a careful study of the context precludes such a possibility (see also DA 809-817).

It was early morning when Jesus walked by the sea, yet already people were thronging about Him. This fact testifies to His “fame,” or popularity, even before the miraculous events of a yet future Sabbath day (ch. 4:31–41).

Word of God. That is, as set forth in the preaching and teaching of Jesus. His words were gracious (see ch. 4:22), fraught with life-giving power (see John 6:63, 68), and the people hungered for them. How their hearts must have thrilled as they listened to Him who was the Word of God incarnate (see on John 1:1–3).

Lake. Gr. limne, “a pool of water.” Luke, whose travels had acquainted him more intimately with the Mediterranean Sea, never speaks of Galilee as a “sea,” (Gr. thalassa), but consistently uses the term limne, “lake.” The other gospel writers, however, always call it thalassa, “sea.”

Gennesaret. Nearby was the fertile Plain of Gennesaret, which probably gave to the lake its name (see Matt. 14:34; Mark 6:53). The plain, situated between the hills and the lake, with Capernaum on the north and Magdala on the south, is now called el-Ghuweir. The plain covers an area about 3 mi. (c. 5 km.) long and 1.5 mi. (c. 2.4 km.) wide. Because of its semitropical climate it was able to produce walnuts, figs, olives, and grapes. The Lake of Gennesaret was commonly called the Sea of Chinnereth in OT times (Num. 34:11; Joshua 12:3; etc.). In the time of Christ the Sea of Galilee (or Lake of Gennesaret) bordered on the richest and most populous district of all Palestine. Galilee was populated chiefly with Jews, yet was quite some distance from Jerusalem, the focal center of Judaism (see on Luke 2:42, 44). Galilee was somewhat removed from the prejudice and animosity of Judaism, and in many respects was an ideal place for Christ to carry on His work.