2 And G2532 saw G1492 two G1417 ships G4143 standing G2476 by G3844 the lake: G3041 but G1161 the fishermen G231 were gone G576 out of G575 them, G846 and were washing G637 their nets. G1350
3 And G1161 he entered G1684 into G1519 one G1520 of the ships, G4143 which G3739 was G2258 Simon's, G4613 and prayed G2065 him G846 that he would thrust out G1877 a little G3641 from G575 the land. G1093 And G2532 he sat down, G2523 and taught G1321 the people G3793 out of G1537 the ship. G4143
4 Now G1161 when G5613 he had left G3973 speaking, G2980 he said G2036 unto G4314 Simon, G4613 Launch out G1877 into G1519 the deep, G899 and G2532 let down G5465 your G5216 nets G1350 for G1519 a draught. G61
5 And G2532 Simon G4613 answering G611 said G2036 unto him, G846 Master, G1988 we have toiled G2872 all G3650 G1223 the night, G3571 and have taken G2983 nothing: G3762 nevertheless G1161 at G1909 thy G4675 word G4487 I will let down G5465 the net. G1350
6 And G2532 when they had G4160 this G5124 done, G4160 they inclosed G4788 a great G4183 multitude G4128 of fishes: G2486 and G1161 their G846 net G1350 brake. G1284
7 And G2532 they beckoned G2656 unto their partners, G3353 which G3588 were in G1722 the other G2087 ship, G4143 that they should come G2064 and help G4815 them. G846 And G2532 they came, G2064 and G2532 filled G4130 both G297 the ships, G4143 so G5620 that they G846 began to sink. G1036
8 When G1161 Simon G4613 Peter G4074 saw G1492 it, he fell down at G4363 Jesus' G2424 knees, G1119 saying, G3004 Depart G1831 from G575 me; G1700 for G3754 I am G1510 a sinful G268 man, G435 O Lord. G2962
9 For G1063 he G846 was astonished, G4023 G2285 and G2532 all G3956 that were G4862 with him, G846 at G1909 the draught G61 of the fishes G2486 which G3739 they had taken: G4815
10 And G1161 so G3668 was also G2532 James, G2385 and G2532 John, G2491 the sons G5207 of Zebedee, G2199 which G3739 were G2258 partners G2844 with Simon. G4613 And G2532 Jesus G2424 said G2036 unto G4314 Simon, G4613 Fear G5399 not; G3361 from G575 henceforth G3568 thou shalt G2071 catch G2221 men. G444
11 And G2532 when they had brought G2609 their ships G4143 to G1909 land, G1093 they forsook G863 all, G537 and followed G190 him. G846
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Luke 5
Commentary on Luke 5 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 5
Lu 5:1-11. Miraculous Draught of Fishes—Call of Peter, James, and John.
Not their first call, however, recorded in Joh 1:35-42; nor their second, recorded in Mt 4:18-22; but their third and last before their appointment to the apostleship. That these calls were all distinct and progressive, seems quite plain. (Similar stages are observable in other eminent servants of Christ.)
3. taught … out of the ship—(See on Mt 13:2).
4. for a draught—munificent recompense for the use of his boat.
5. Master—betokening not surely a first acquaintance, but a relationship already formed.
all night—the usual time of fishing then (Joh 21:3), and even now Peter, as a fisherman, knew how hopeless it was to "let down his net" again, save as a mere act of faith, "at His word" of command, which carried in it, as it ever does, assurance of success. (This shows he must have been already and for some time a follower of Christ.)
6. net brake—rather "was breaking," or "beginning to break," as in Lu 5:7, "beginning to sink."
8. Depart, &c.—Did Peter then wish Christ to leave him? Verily no. His all was wrapt up in Him (Joh 6:68). "It was rather, Woe is me, Lord! How shall I abide this blaze of glory? A sinner such as I am is not fit company for Thee." (Compare Isa 6:5.)
10. Simon, fear not—This shows how the Lord read Peter's speech. The more highly they deemed Him, ever the more grateful it was to the Redeemer's spirit. Never did they pain Him by manifesting too lofty conceptions of Him.
from henceforth—marking a new stage of their connection with Christ. The last was simply, "I will make you fishers."
fishers of men—"What wilt thou think, Simon, overwhelmed by this draught of fishes, when I shall bring to thy net what will beggar all this glory?" (See on Mt 4:18.)
11. forsook all—They did this before (Mt 4:20); now they do it again; and yet after the Crucifixion they are at their boats once more (Joh 21:3). In such a business this is easily conceivable. After pentecost, however, they appear to have finally abandoned their secular calling.
Lu 5:12-16. Leper Healed.
(See on Mt 8:2-4.)
15. But so, &c.—(See Mr 1:45).
Lu 5:17-26. Paralytic Healed.
(See on Mt 9:1-8).
17. Pharisees and doctors … sitting by—the highest testimony yet borne to our Lord's growing influence, and the necessity increasingly felt by the ecclesiastics throughout the country of coming to some definite judgment regarding Him.
power of the Lord … present—with Jesus.
to heal them—the sick people.
19. housetop—the flat roof.
through the tiling … before Jesus—(See on Mr 2:2).
24. take up thy couch—"sweet saying! The bed had borne the man; now the man shall bear the bed!" [Bengel].
Lu 5:27-32. Levi's Call and Feast.
(See on Mt 9:9-13; and Mr 2:14.)
30. their scribes—a mode of expression showing that Luke was writing for Gentiles.
Lu 5:33-39. Fasting.
(See on Mt 9:14-17.)
The incongruities mentioned in Lu 5:36-38 were intended to illustrate the difference between the genius of the old and new economies, and the danger of mixing up the one with the other. As in the one case supposed, "the rent is made worse," and in the other, "the new wine is spilled," so by a mongrel mixture of the ascetic ritualism of the old with the spiritual freedom of the new economy, both are disfigured and destroyed. The additional parable in Lu 5:39, which is peculiar to Luke, has been variously interpreted. But the "new wine" seems plainly to be the evangelical freedom which Christ was introducing; and the old, the opposite spirit of Judaism: men long accustomed to the latter could not be expected "straightway"—all at once—to take a liking for the former; that is, "These inquiries about the difference between My disciples and the Pharisees," and even John's, are not surprising; they are the effect of a natural revulsion against sudden change, which time will cure; the new wine will itself in time become old, and so acquire all the added charms of antiquity. What lessons does this teach, on the one hand, to those who unreasonably cling to what is getting antiquated; and, on the other, to hasty reformers who have no patience with the timidity of their weaker brethren!