The First Four Fulltime Disciples

In the summer of 29 A.D., Jesus gained his first four followers. During the year that had passed, they had joined him for various events, but surely had continued their own pursuits.

Luke gives us the beginning event in Jesus calling the first four permanent disciples, the miraculous catch of fish after Jesus taught from Simon’s boat. After Peter’s sense of unworthiness, Jesus foretells his future, that he will fish for men. Luke records the event without reference to when it occurred.

Some time passed, a few hours or a few days, but their specific challenge by Jesus would have come after that event. Luke’s placement of the brothers differs from that of Matthew and Mark. In Luke’s story, he’s on Peter’s boat, in the record of Matthew and Mark, he’s on the shore. There’s no conflict here. Each is a snapshot of events in a continuing day. Neither Matthew nor Mark deal with the catch, which would have left these four aware that Jesus was more than a mere rabbi.

Now, the call to fulltime discipleship is issued to four of the original six. Jesus now turned to four whom he knew well and called them to commit to the kingdom’s work. How permanent they saw this call, we are not told, but they responded without hesitation. Over the next few months, Jesus and these two sets of brothers would be the missionary band.