Luke 5:10

So was also James. Peter’s three partners are mentioned by name. They have already been referred to in v. 9 as “all that were with him.” Luke thus emphasizes the fact that all four of the men responded similarly to the miracle and appreciated its significance. The fact that here, as elsewhere, James is commonly named before his brother John suggests that he was the older of the two (see DA 292).

Zebedee. See on Matt. 4:21.

Partners. Gr. koinonoi, “associates,” or “partners.” Koinonoi denotes a slightly closer association than does metochoi (see on v. 7).

Unto Simon. Compare Matt. 4:18-22; see on Mark 1:16. Although Jesus addressed Himself primarily to Simon, who had been first to grasp the significance of the miracle and to respond accordingly, the others knew that they too were included (see Luke 5:11).

Catch. Gr. zogreo, from zoos, “alive,” or agreuo, “to catch”; hence, “to take alive,” or “to capture.” The Master Fisherman, this very moment, was “catching” Peter, Andrew, James, and John. The miracle was His “net.” His purpose in “catching” these four men “alive” was that they, in turn, should “catch” others “alive.” The figure was not entirely new, for long before this the prophet Jeremiah had spoken in similar language (see Jer. 16:16). Peter, Andrew, James, and John were now caught in the gospel net; there was no escape; in fact, there was no desire to escape (see on Luke 5:8, 9).

What a contrast! All their lives they had caught fish, which died as a result of capture; henceforth they were to catch men, “that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10; cf. Luke 19:10).