Matthew 4:17-20
The Message
Teaching and Healing
12-17 When Jesus got word that John had been arrested, he returned to Galilee. He moved from his hometown, Nazareth, to the lakeside village Capernaum, nestled at the base of the Zebulun and Naphtali hills. This move completed Isaiah’s revelation:
Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
road to the sea, over Jordan,
Galilee, crossroads for the nations.
People sitting out their lives in the dark
saw a huge light;
Sitting in that dark, dark country of death,
they watched the sun come up.
This Isaiah-prophesied revelation came to life in Galilee the moment Jesus started preaching. He picked up where John left off: “Change your life. God’s kingdom is here.”
18-20 Walking along the beach of Lake Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers: Simon (later called Peter) and Andrew. They were fishing, throwing their nets into the lake. It was their regular work. Jesus said to them, “Come with me. I’ll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I’ll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass.” They didn’t ask questions, but simply dropped their nets and followed.
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Matthew 4:17-19
New International Version
17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven(A) has come near.”
Jesus Calls His First Disciples(B)
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee,(C) he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter(D) and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,”(E) Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
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