Matthew 4:20
New International Version
At once they left their nets and followed him.

New Living Translation
And they left their nets at once and followed him.

English Standard Version
Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

Berean Standard Bible
And at once they left their nets and followed Him.

Berean Literal Bible
And immediately having left the nets, they followed Him.

King James Bible
And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

New King James Version
They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

New American Standard Bible
Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

NASB 1995
Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

NASB 1977
And they immediately left the nets, and followed Him.

Legacy Standard Bible
And immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

Amplified Bible
Immediately they left their nets and followed Him [becoming His disciples, believing and trusting in Him and following His example].

Christian Standard Bible
Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

American Standard Version
And they straightway left the nets, and followed him.

Contemporary English Version
Right then the two brothers dropped their nets and went with him.

English Revised Version
And they straightway left the nets, and followed him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They immediately left their nets and followed him.

Good News Translation
At once they left their nets and went with him.

International Standard Version
So at once they left their nets and followed him.

Majority Standard Bible
And at once they left their nets and followed Him.

NET Bible
They left their nets immediately and followed him.

New Heart English Bible
And they immediately left their nets and followed him.

Webster's Bible Translation
And they immediately left their nets, and followed him.

Weymouth New Testament
So they immediately left their nets and followed Him. As He went further on,

World English Bible
They immediately left their nets and followed him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and they, immediately, having left the nets, followed Him.

Berean Literal Bible
And immediately having left the nets, they followed Him.

Young's Literal Translation
and they, immediately, having left the nets, did follow him.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they instantly having let go their nets, followed him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they immediately leaving their nets, followed him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And at once, leaving behind their nets, they followed him.

New American Bible
At once they left their nets and followed him.

New Revised Standard Version
Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So they immediately left their nets and went after him.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And at once they left their net and they went after him.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And they immediately left their nets and followed him.

Godbey New Testament
And immediately, having left their nets, they followed Him.

Haweis New Testament
Then immediately quitting their nets they followed him.

Mace New Testament
so they immediately left their nets, and followed him.

Weymouth New Testament
So they immediately left their nets and followed Him. As He went further on,

Worrell New Testament
And, immediately leaving their nets, they followed Him.

Worsley New Testament
and they immediately left their nets, and followed Him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The First Disciples
19“Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 And at once they left their nets and followed Him. 21Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus called them,…

Cross References
Mark 1:18
And at once they left their nets and followed Him.

Luke 5:11
And when they had brought their boats ashore, they left everything and followed Him.

Matthew 19:27
“Look,” Peter replied, “we have left everything to follow You. What then will there be for us?”

John 1:37-39
And when the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. / Jesus turned and saw them following. “What do you want?” He asked. They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are You staying?” / “Come and see,” He replied. So they went and saw where He was staying, and spent that day with Him. It was about the tenth hour.

John 21:15-17
When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.” / Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.” / Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

Acts 9:20
Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.”

Acts 22:10
Then I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ ‘Get up and go into Damascus,’ He told me. ‘There you will be told all that you have been appointed to do.’

Hebrews 11:8
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going.

1 Kings 19:19-21
So Elijah departed and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve teams of oxen, and he was with the twelfth team. Elijah passed by him and threw his cloak around him. / So Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and then I will follow you.” “Go on back,” Elijah replied, “for what have I done to you?” / So Elisha turned back from him, took his pair of oxen, and slaughtered them. Using the oxen’s equipment for fuel, he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow and serve Elijah.

Genesis 12:1-4
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you. / I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. / I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” ...

Exodus 3:10-12
Therefore, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt.” / But Moses asked God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” / “I will surely be with you,” God said, “and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, all of you will worship God on this mountain.”

Isaiah 6:8
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?” And I said: “Here am I. Send me!”

Jeremiah 1:4-7
The word of the LORD came to me, saying: / “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” / “Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!” ...

Ezekiel 2:3-5
“Son of man,” He said to me, “I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me. To this very day they and their fathers have rebelled against Me. / They are obstinate and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you are to say to them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says.’ / And whether they listen or refuse to listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them.

Jonah 3:3
This time Jonah got up and went to Nineveh, in accordance with the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, requiring a three-day journey.


Treasury of Scripture

And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

Matthew 10:37
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Matthew 19:27
Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

1 Kings 19:21
And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.

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Matthew 4
1. Jesus, fasting forty days,
3. is tempted by the devil and ministered unto by angels.
12. He dwells in Capernaum;
17. begins to preach;
18. calls Peter and Andrew,
21. James and John;
23. teaches and heals all the diseased.














And at once
The phrase "at once" signifies immediate action and urgency. In the Greek, the word used is "εὐθέως" (eutheos), which conveys a sense of immediacy and without delay. This reflects the disciples' readiness and willingness to respond to Jesus' call. Historically, this immediate response can be seen as a testament to the compelling nature of Jesus' presence and authority. It challenges believers today to consider their own responsiveness to God's call, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing spiritual commitments over worldly concerns.

they left
The act of leaving, in Greek "ἀφέντες" (aphentes), implies a deliberate decision to abandon their previous way of life. This was not a casual departure but a significant sacrifice, as fishing was their livelihood. The historical context reveals that fishing was a stable and essential occupation in Galilee, providing sustenance and economic stability. The disciples' willingness to leave their nets symbolizes a profound trust in Jesus and a readiness to embrace a new identity and mission. It serves as an inspiration for believers to consider what they might need to leave behind to fully follow Christ.

their nets
Nets, or "δίκτυα" (diktya) in Greek, were essential tools for fishermen, representing their trade and source of income. The mention of nets highlights the tangible and practical aspects of the disciples' lives that they were willing to forsake. Archaeological findings have shown the complexity and value of fishing nets in ancient times, underscoring the significance of this sacrifice. This phrase invites reflection on the material possessions or personal securities that individuals might be called to relinquish in their spiritual journey.

and followed Him
To "follow," from the Greek "ἠκολούθησαν" (ēkolouthēsan), means to accompany or to go along with someone. This implies not just physical movement but a commitment to discipleship and a willingness to learn from and emulate Jesus. The historical context of a rabbi-disciple relationship in Jewish culture involved close companionship and adherence to the teacher's way of life. By choosing to follow Jesus, the disciples were entering into a transformative relationship that would redefine their purpose and direction. This phrase serves as a powerful reminder of the call to discipleship, urging believers to actively pursue a life aligned with Christ's teachings and example.

Verse 20. - And they straightway left their nets. (For their leaving everything Wetstein, on ver. 19, compares Epictetus, 12, Ἐάν δὲ κυβερνήτης καλέσῃ τρέχε ἐπὶ τὸ πλοῖον ἀφεὶς ἐκεῖνα πάντα μηδὲν ἐπιστρεφόμενος, "If the steersman call, run to the ship, leaving all those things, without regarding anything.") The Rheims Version, with its love of archaisms, has, "But they incontinent, leaving the nettes, followed him."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

at once
εὐθέως (eutheōs)
Adverb
Strong's 2112: Immediately, soon, at once. Adverb from euthus; directly, i.e. At once or soon.

they left
ἀφέντες (aphentes)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 863: From apo and hiemi; to send forth, in various applications.

[their]
τὰ (ta)
Article - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

nets
δίκτυα (diktya)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 1350: A fishing-net. Probably from a primary verb diko; a seine.

[and] followed
ἠκολούθησαν (ēkolouthēsan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 190: To accompany, attend, follow. Properly, to be in the same way with, i.e. To accompany.

Him.
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 4:20 They immediately left their nets and followed (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 4:19
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