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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Follow Followed Further Immediately Nets Once Straight Straightway Trawl-Nets
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Follow Followed Further Immediately Nets Once Straight Straightway Trawl-Nets
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 immediacy of the disciples' response highlights their readiness and willingness to follow Jesus without hesitation. This reflects the urgency and authority of Jesus' call. In the cultural context of first-century Judaism, a rabbi's call to follow was a significant invitation, often requiring a decisive and immediate response. The phrase "at once" underscores the disciples' recognition of Jesus' authority and their commitment to His mission.

they left their nets
The nets symbolize the disciples' livelihood and their previous way of life as fishermen. By leaving their nets, they are abandoning their former occupation and security to embrace a new identity and purpose. This act of leaving behind their nets can be seen as a metaphor for repentance and the renunciation of worldly attachments. It echoes the call to leave behind the old self and embrace a new life in Christ, as seen in passages like 2 Corinthians 5:17.

and followed Him
Following Jesus implies discipleship, which involves learning from Him, imitating His life, and participating in His mission. This phrase indicates a personal commitment to Jesus, prioritizing His teachings and example above all else. The act of following is not just physical but spiritual, signifying a transformation of heart and mind. This call to follow is consistent with the broader biblical theme of God calling individuals to a covenant relationship, as seen in the call of Abraham in Genesis 12:1-4 and the call of the prophets. The disciples' response foreshadows the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20, where Jesus commands His followers to make disciples of all nations.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is beginning His public ministry and calling His first disciples.

2. Simon Peter and Andrew
Brothers and fishermen by trade, they are the first disciples called by Jesus in this passage.

3. Sea of Galilee
The location where Jesus calls Simon Peter and Andrew, a significant place for Jesus' ministry.

4. The Calling of the Disciples
This event marks the beginning of Jesus' gathering of His followers, who will later become the apostles.
Teaching Points
Immediate Obedience
The phrase "at once" emphasizes the urgency and willingness with which Simon Peter and Andrew responded to Jesus' call. As believers, we are encouraged to respond promptly to God's calling in our lives.

Leaving Behind
The act of leaving their nets symbolizes a departure from their old life and security. This teaches us about the cost of discipleship and the need to prioritize our relationship with Christ over worldly attachments.

Faith in Action
By following Jesus without hesitation, Simon Peter and Andrew demonstrate faith in action. This challenges us to trust in God's plan, even when it requires stepping into the unknown.

The Call to Follow
Jesus' call to "follow Me" is a personal invitation to a relationship with Him. It reminds us that discipleship is not just about belief but involves a commitment to walk in His ways.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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