The Bible is full of stories about Jesus and his disciples, but have you ever wondered what the occupation of the first four disciples of Jesus was? These men were among the closest followers of Jesus, and their occupations played a significant role in their interactions with him. Let’s take a closer look at who they were and what they did for a living.
Simon Peter
Simon Peter was one of the first disciples called by Jesus. He was a fisherman by trade, working alongside his brother Andrew on the Sea of Galilee.
In the book of Matthew, we read how Jesus called out to Simon Peter and Andrew as they were casting their nets into the sea: “Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). From that moment on, Simon Peter left his nets behind and became one of Jesus’ closest disciples.
James and John
James and John were brothers who also worked as fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. They were partners with Simon Peter and Andrew in their fishing business.
In fact, in the book of Luke, we read that James and John were mending their nets with their father Zebedee when Jesus called them to follow him (Luke 5:10-11). Like Simon Peter, they left behind their livelihoods to become disciples of Jesus.
Andrew
Andrew was Simon Peter’s brother and also worked as a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee. He was actually the first disciple called by Jesus, according to the book of John.
Andrew had been a disciple of John the Baptist before he met Jesus and introduced his brother to him (John 1:40-42). Together, Andrew and Simon Peter became two of Jesus’ closest followers.
- Fishing as a metaphor
It’s interesting to note that Jesus used fishing as a metaphor for his ministry. He often spoke about catching fish and using nets to bring people to faith.
This analogy was particularly meaningful to the first four disciples, who had spent their lives catching fish on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus’ call to become “fishers of men” would have resonated with them on a deep level.
In conclusion
So, what was the occupation of the first four disciples of Jesus? They were fishermen, working on the Sea of Galilee before they were called by Jesus to become his disciples.
Their livelihoods played an important role in shaping their interactions with Jesus and understanding his teachings. Today, we can learn from their example and strive to follow Jesus with the same level of dedication and commitment that they did.