THE GOSPELS: The CALLING and CHOOSING of the TWELVE DISCIPLES to become FISHERS of MEN

30 January 2026

We are studying today the CALLING of the FIRST DISCIPLES

We are mainly reading from the Complete Jewish Study Bible – insight for Jews and Christians. And use the Hebrew letters for the name of God, YHVH (Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh) where the word LORD in English is indicated in capital letters in the Scriptures. The reason being that the Jewish writers removed the vowels in God’s name out of fear of transgressing the third Commandment of taking His Name in vain. And today there is a lot of controversy about the pronunciation of His Name.  We also refer to Him as Abba Father and use the Hebrew Name Yeshua the Messiah instead of the English Name Jesus Christ translated from the Greek.

The Nelson’s Foundational Bible Dictionary describes a DISCIPLE as follows: It is a pupil or learner. The word is once used in the Old Testament in Isaiah 8:16 where God told Isaiah to only communicate His teachings to the REMNANT of ISRAEL who stayed faithful to Him saying: “Bind up this TESTIMONY of WARNING and SEAL UP GOD’s INSTRUCTION among HIS DISCIPLES” (NIV) And the word disciple occurs frequently in the New Testament, meaning FOLLOWERS of a TEACHER. The terms DICIPLE and APOSTLE are often used interchangeably. But a disciple is a LEARNER or FOLOWER, while an APOSTLE generally refers to a person who is sent with a SPECIAL MESSAGE or COMISSION.

The ROLES of a TEACHER and a DISCIPLE are explained by Yeshua in John 13 when Yeshua washed His disciples feet before the Feast of Pesach (Passover) and we read in verses 12-15: “After He had washed their feet, taken back His clothes and returned to the table, He said to them, ‘Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Rabbi (meaning: Teacher) and Master, and you are right because I am. Now if I, the Master and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash each other’s feet. For I have set an EXAMPLE, so that you may DO as I have DONE to you.”

If we look at the four Gospels, it seems as if there were several occasions during which Yeshua met with and called people who later were chosen by Him to be His TWELVE DISCIPLES.

In the FIRST INSTANCE we read about John the Baptist standing at the Jordan River and TWO of his disciples following Yeshua.

As background we read in John 1:24-28 of John immersing people at the Jordan River and the Pharisees asking him questions about who he was. Then we read in verses 29-33: “The next day, John saw Yeshua coming toward him and said: ‘Look! God’s (the Father’s) Lamb!’ The one who is taking away the sin of the world! This is the man I was talking about when I said, after me is coming someone who has come to rank above me, because he existed before me. I myself did not know who He was, but the REASON I came immersing (baptizing) with water was so that He might me made known to ISRAEL. Then John gave his TESTIMONY: I saw the (Holy) Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove, and remaining on Him. I myself did not know who He was, but the One who sent me to immerse in water said to me, ‘The One on whom you see the (Holy) Spirit descending and remaining, this is the One who immerses in the RUACH HA KODESH (the HOLY SPIRIT). And I have seen and borne WITNESS that this is the SON of GOD (the Father).

The Jewish Study Bible explains: The LAMB was the dominant sacrificial animal used in the Temple, particularly for sin offerings. In the NEW COVENANT, Yeshua is the ONE who is taking away the sins of the world. Yeshua is therefore equated with the PASSOVER LAMB (also read 1 Corinthians 5:7), as well as MESSIAH and the SUFFERING SERVANT in Isaiah 53, confirmed in Acts 8:32. And in the Book of Revelation Yeshua is referred to as the LAMB nearly thirty times.

And then we read in John 1:35-37 “The next day, John (the Baptist) was again standing with TWO of his talmidim (meaning: disciples). On seeing Yeshua walking by, he said, ‘Look! God’s Lamb!’ His TWO DISCIPLES heard him speaking, and they FOLLOWED YESHUA. Yeshua turned and saw them following Him, and He asked them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to Him, ‘Rabbi!’ (which means ‘Teacher!’) ‘Where are You staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ So they went and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him the rest of the day – it was about four o’clock in the afternoon.”

The Jewish Study Bible explains: The word Rabbi, translated as Teacher, appears fifteen times in the Greek text of the New Testament, ALWAYS referring to Yeshua, except in Matthew 23:7 where Yeshua addressed the crowds and His disciples and told them that the Torah teachers and the Pharisees love to be called “Rabbi” but then He says in verse 8 “But you are not to let yourselves be called Rabbi because you have ONE Rabbi,” The Study Bible explains here: Rabbi means literally “my great one” and also “my master” or “my teacher”. And in Biblical times it became a title of respect. Yeshua did therefore not prohibit people to be teachers but rather he encouraged them to be humble and not to become arrogant using titles.

We further read in John 1:40-42 “One of the TWO (disciples) who had heard John and had followed Yeshua was Andrew the brother of Simon Peter. The FIRST THING he did was to find his brother Simon (Peter) and tell him, ‘We have found the Mashiach!’ (the Messiah, meaning: the One who has been anointed). He took him to Yeshua. Looking at him, Yeshua said, ‘You are Simon the son of John; you will be known as Kefa (meaning: “rock”, Petros in Greek that is translated to Peter in English).”

Two of John the Baptist’s disciples were therefore the FIRST to become disciples of Yeshua. Groups of disciples (also called followers) would travel the land with their teachers, so they could learn not only from their public teachings, but also from their informal life and words. Andrew and his companion John the son of Zebedee (who would later become John the beloved disciple who wrote the Gospel of John as well as 1^st and 2^nd John and the Book of Revelation), had left their jobs of FISHING on the Lake (also called Sea) in Galilee, to go SOUTH to the Jordan River, and become DICIPLES of JOHN the BAPTIST. They already knew from John the Baptist’s teachings that the Messiah was coming soon. They had REPENTED of their sins and been BAPTIZED. They were READY to LEAVE EVERYTHING and FOLLOW YESHUA the MESSIAH. And we then see ANDREW, a fishermen, was the first person to bring someone to Yeshua, his brother Peter.

And we further read in John 1:43-46 “The next day, having decided to leave Galilee, Yeshua found Philip and said, ‘Follow Me! Phillip was from Bethsaida (meaning the House of Fish or Fishing, a town on the lake of Gennesaret/ the sea of Galilee, near the Jordan), the town where Andrew and Peter lived. Philip found Nathanael and told him, ‘We’ve found the ONE that Moses wrote about in the TORAH (Genesis to Deuteronomy), also the PROPHETS – it’s Yeshua the Son of Joseph from Nazareth!”

This was also confirmed by Yeshua Himself after His resurrection as we read in Luke 24:27 “…starting with Moses and all the prophets, He explained to them the things that can be found throughout the Tanakh (the Old Testament) concerning Himself” and in verse 44, speaking to His disciples He added the Psalms.

So what did they read about the COMING MESSIAH in the BOOKS of MOSES (the Torah), and the PROPHETS?

To name only a few, we read in:

• Genesis 3:15 the PROPHECY of the SEED of a woman who will bruise the serpent’s head (who is Satan according to Revelation 12:9) and the serpent will bruise His heel.

• His human generation is indicated:
• He would be a descendent of Shem through Abraham – blessing all the families of the earth (Genesis 12:3 and 18:18).
• Through Isaac – an EVERLASTING COVENANT (Genesis 17:19).
• Through Jacob – Genesis 28:14 & Numbers 24:17.
• He will born in the line of the Tribe of Judah – Genesis 49:10 & Micah 5:2.
• He will be of the House of David and RULE as promised descendent of David forever – Isaiah 9:7 & 11:1 and Jeremiah 23:5.

• His birthplace was prophesied – Micah 5:2.

• He will be a GREAT PROPHET – Deuteronomy 18:15-19.

You will remember that we read in Luke 4:14-22 about Yeshua’s announcement of His Ministry in His home town Nazareth and afterwards He was driven out of the town and then we read in Luke 4:31 “He went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and made a practice of teaching them on Shabbat (the Sabbath). They were amazed at the way He taught, because His WORD carried AUTHORITY.”

And we read in Matthew 4:12-17 “When Yeshua heard that John (the Baptist) had been put in prison, He returned to Galilee; but left Nazareth and came to live in Capernaum, a lake shore town near the boundary between Zebulun and Naftali (two of the twelve tribes to whom land had been allotted prior to their dispersion along with the Northern Kingdom). This happened in order to fulfil what Isaiah the prophet had said (referring to Isaiah 8:23 and 9:1-2): ‘Land of Zebulun and Naphtali, toward the lake, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Nations of the Gentiles (the non-Jewish people, people not from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin) – the people LIVING in DARKNESS have seen a GREAT LIGHT; upon those living in the region, in the shadow of death, LIGHT has dawned.’ From that time on, Yeshua began proclaiming, TURN FROM YOUR SINS TO GOD (the Father), for the KINGDOM of HEAVEN is near!”

The Jewish Study Bible explains: Isaiah speaks of a future time of blessing. The Northern Kingdom of Israel (the Ten Tribes under Ephraim, including the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali) who was to experience the Assyrian captivity would someday experience God’s BLESSING, mediated through the BIRTH of a CHILD who would RULE on the throne of David alluding to THE MESSIAH.

And we further read in Matthew 4:18-20 “As Yeshua walked by Lake Gennesaret (or Sea) of Galilee, He saw two brothers who were fishermen – Simon, known as Kefa (the “rock”, Peter) and his brother Andrew – throwing their net into the lake.” We know from John 1:42 that Yeshua gave Simon the name of Kefa, meaning rock, so He knew them and saw them again at the Sea of Galilee busy fishing. And we further read in Matthew 4:19-20 “Yeshua said to them, ‘Come after Me, and I will make you FISHERS of MEN! At once they left their nets and went with Him.” (Also read Mark 1:16-20).

And we read in the Luke 5:1-11 version the following: “One day, as Yeshua was standing on the shore of Lake Gennesaret (the Sea of Galilee), with the people pressing in around Him in order to HEAR the WORD of GOD, He noticed two boats pulled up on the beach, left there by FISHEMEN, who were cleaning their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon (Peter), and asked him to go out a little way from shore. Then He sat down and taught the people from the boat. When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon (Peter), ‘Put out into DEEP WATER, and let down your nets for a CATCH’. Simon (Peter) answered, ‘We’ve worked hard ALL night long, Rabbi, and haven’t caught a thing! But if You say so, I’ll let down the nets.’ They did this and took in so many fish that their nets began to tear. So they motioned to their partners in the other boats to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats to the point of sinking. When he saw this, Simon Peter fell at Yeshua’s knees and said, ‘Get away from me, Sir, because I’m a sinner!’ For astonishment had seized him and everyone with him at the catch of FISH they had taken, and likewise both James and John, Simon (Peter’s) partners. “Don’t be frightened Yeshua said to Simon (Peter), from now on you will be catching men – ALIVE! And as soon as they had beached the boats, they left everything behind and followed Him.”

So, WHAT DID IT MEAN THAT YESHUA WOULD MAKE THEM FISHERS OF MEN?

We read in Habakkuk 1:12-16 “YHVH haven’t You existed forever? My God, my HOLY ONE, we will not die. YHVH, You appointed them (referring to the Babylonians who invaded the Southern Kingdom of Judah and Benjamin) to execute judgement. Rock, You commissioned them to correct us. Your eyes are too pure to see evil, You cannot countenance (tolerate) oppression. So why do You countenance (tolerate) traitors? Why are You silent when evil people swallow up those more righteous than they? You make people like FISH in the sea, like reptiles that have no ruler. The evil haul them up with their hooks, CATCH them in their FISH NET or gather them in their DRAGNET. Then they rejoice and make merry, offering sacrifices to their FISHNET and burning to their DRAGNET (worshipping evil); because through them they live in luxury, with plenty of food to eat.”

It therefore seems as if MEN can be CAUGHT LIKE FISH by EVIL and a FISHHOOK is sometimes used in the Old Testament as God’s JUDGEMENT.

We read the following PROPHECIES about this:

In Jeremiah 16 we read the PROPHECY of ISRAEL’s (the Northern Kingdom, the Ten Tribes under Ephraim’s) captivity by the Assyrians and dispersion into the nations and the promise of future restoration. We read in verses 11-13 the reasons for their captivity and dispersion namely: “…It is because your ancestors abandoned Me, says YHVH, and went after other (small letter) gods, serving and worshipping them, but abandoned Me and DID NOT KEEP MY TORAH (Genesis to Deuteronomy summed up in the Ten Commandments). And you have done worse than your ancestors, for – look! – each of you lives according to the STUBBORNESS of his OWN EVIL HEART, so that you DON’T LISTEN TO ME. Therefore, I am thrusting you out of this land into a land you have not known, neither your ancestors; and there you will serve other (small letter) gods day and night; for I will show you NO favor.” And then we read in verses 14-15 “Therefore, says YHVH, the day will come when people will no longer swear, ‘As YHVH lives, who brought the people of ISRAEL out of the land of Egypt,’ but, ‘As YHVH lives, who brought the people of ISRAEL out of the LAND of THE NORTH and out of ALL COUNTRIES where HE drove them’; for I WILL BRING THEM BACK TO THEIR OWN LAND, which I gave their ancestors.”

And then the PROMISE of in verse 16: “Look, says YHVH, I will send FOR MANY FISHERMEN, and they will FISH for them.”

And we read in Jeremiah 33:6-9 “…I will HEAL them and REVEAL to them PEACE and TRUTH in plenty. I will cause the captives of Judah (the Southern Kingdom) and the captives of ISRAEL (the Northern Kingdom) to return; and I will build them up as I did at first. I will CLEANSE them from all their sins, through which they offended Me; and I will PARDON ALL their sins, through which they offended and rebelled against Me. Then the name of this city will bring Me JOY, PRAISE, GLORY before ALL NATIONS of the earth that hear about ALL the GOOD I am doing for them; they will be overcome with fear and trembling at ALL the GOOD and PEACE I am SECURING for it.” We further read in verses 14-16: “Here the DAYS are coming, says YHVH, when I will fulfil this GOOD PROMISE which I have proclaimed for the HOUSE of ISRAEL (the Northern Kingdom) and the HOUSE of JUDAH (the Southern Kingdom). When those days come, at that time, I will cause to spring up for David a (capital letter) BRANCH of RIGHTEOUSNESS (referring to Yeshua the Messiah). He will Do what is JUST and RIGHT in the land. When those days come, Judah will be SAVED, Jerusalem will LIVE in SAFETY, and the NAME given her (to Jerusalem, described as the Bride in Revelation 21:9-11) will be YHVH Tzidkenu (YHVH our RIGHTEOUSNESS).” And in verse 26b YHVH concludes: “For I will cause their captives to COME BACK, and I will show them COMPASSION. “

We also read a PARABLE told by Yeshua about the FISH NET in Matthew 13:47-50 saying: “Once more, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a net thrown into the lake, that caught ALL KINDS of FISH. When it was full, the FISHERMEN brought the net up onto the shore, sat down and collected the GOOD FISH in BASKETS, but threw away the BAD FISH. So it will be at the CLOSE of THE AGE – the angels will go forth and SEPARATE the EVIL PEOPLE from among the RIGHTEOUS and throw them into the FIERY FURNANCE, where they will wail and grind their teeth.”

And we further read in Matthew 4:21-22 “Going on from there, He saw two other brothers – James the son of Zebedee and John his brother – in the boat with their father Zebedee, repairing their nets; and He CALLED them (you will again remember Yeshua already knew John as we’ve read in John 1:40-42). And we read in Matthew 4:22 “At once they left the boat and their father and went with Yeshua.”

And we read in Matthew 4:23-25 “Yeshua went all over Galilee TEACHING in their synagogues, proclaiming the GOOD NEWS of the KINGDOM, and HEALING people from EVERY DISEASE and SICKNESS. Word of Him spread through all Syria, and people brought to Him ALL who were ill, suffering from various diseases and pains, and those held in the power of demos, and epileptics and paralytics; and HE HEALED THEM. Huge crowds followed Him from Galilee, the Ten Towns (the Decapolis – consisting of Ten cities that were built by the followers of Alexander the great, located southeast of Galilee), Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan.”

And in Luke 5:27-32 we read: “Later Yeshua went out and saw a tax-collector named Levi sitting in his tax-collection booth; and He said to him, ‘Follow Me! He got up, LEFT EVERYTHING and FOLLOWED HIM. Levi gave a banquet at his house in Yeshua’s honor, and there were a large group of tax-collectors and others at the table with them. The Pharisees and their Torah-Teachers protested indignantly (furiously) against His disciples, saying, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax-collectors and sinners? It was Yeshua who answered them; ‘The ones who need a doctor aren’t the healthy but the sick. I have not come to call the ‘righteous’, but rather to CALL SINNERS TO TURN TO GOD (the Father) FROM THEIR SINS” (Also read Matthew 9:9-13 and Mark 2:13-17).

And then we read about the SELECTION of the TWELVE DISCIPLES in Luke 6:12-19 “…Yeshua went out to the hill country to PRAY, and ALL night He continued in PRAYER to God (the Father). When day come, He called His disciples and choose from among them twelve to be known as emissaries (representatives/ disciples). ” Also read Matthew 10:2-4 and Mark 3:13-19.

The Nelson’s Foundational Bible Dictionary explains: Yeshua chose TWELVE DISCIPLES to serve with Him during His ministry and to provide LEADERSHIP to the BODY of YESHUA the MESSIAH (the Messianic Congregation/ Church) after His ascension. TWELVE DISCIPLES may have been selected because this number corresponds to the TWELVE TRIBES of ISRAEL.

Those chosen by Yeshua after HE PRAYED ALL NIGHT, included the following:

1. Simon Peter (Kefa/ Cephas meaning rock), leader of the disciples.
2. Andrew the brother of Peter.
3. James, son of Zebedee.
4. The brother of James, called John the beloved disciple.
5. Phillip from Bethsaida
6. Bartholomew (probably Nathanael) from Cana of Galilee.
7. Matthew (Levi), the tax-collector.
8. Thomas (Didymus, which means Twin) from Galilee
9. Simon the Canaanite, probably Simon the Zealot, from Galilee.
10. James, the son of Alphaeus.
11. Lebbaeus, or Thaddeaus, and
12. Judas Iscariot who betrayed Yeshua.

Matthias was chosen later by the disciples to replace Judas after the ascension of Yeshua (read Acts 1:26).

Yeshua had a specific mission in mind for them – to carry on His work after He ended His earthly ministry. The original twelve were chosen from among men who had followed Yeshua from the beginning. Like the rest of the Jewish nation (the Southern kingdom of Judah and Benjamin) they had an incomplete understanding of Yeshua’s mission and the necessity for His death (Matthew 15:16). During the latter part of His ministry Yeshua spend a great deal of time alone with the TWELVE, PREPARING them for events that were to come. Even so, they were astounded a His resurrection. After they were EMPOWERED by the HOLY SPIRIT at Pentecost, they were filled with BOLDNESS and UNDERSTANDING and they became POWERFUL WITNESSES in Jerusalem and surrounding regions in spite of harsh persecution. Many were martyred for their faith.