Bible Strands
Mark 1:16
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus walks beside the Sea of Galilee and sees Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net. This moment follows His proclamation that the kingdom of God is near and requires repentance and faith.
The words — παρὰγων (paragōn) means "passing by" and describes Jesus' movement along the shoreline. παρὰ (para) literally denotes proximity, indicating He walked alongside the sea.
The thread — This scene parallels the calling narrative in Matthew 4:18 and recalls Andrew's initial following of Jesus in John 1:40. Luke 6:14 later lists Simon and Andrew among the chosen twelve apostles.
Why it lands — The text places ordinary labor against a divine announcement, requiring a decision to leave familiar work for immediate obedience. It demands a reader acknowledge that calling interrupts routine and requires action.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
Cross-references
- Matthew 4:18 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 sea, for they were fishermen.
- John 1:40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s testimony and followed Jesus.
- Luke 6:14 Simon, whom He named Peter, and his brother Andrew; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew;
- John 6:8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him,
- Matthew 10:2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
- Mark 1:16 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
- Mark 3:16 These are the twelve He appointed: Simon (whom He named Peter),
- Mark 3:18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot,
- Luke 5:1 On one occasion, while Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret with the crowd pressing in on Him to hear the word of God,
- John 12:22 Philip relayed this appeal to Andrew, and both of them went and told Jesus.