ContradictionsReading order 254Bible context 4 min read

How did Peter and Andrew become Jesus's disciples?

The Gospels introduce the fishermen's discipleship through a shoreline summons, Andrew's personal introduction, and a miraculous catch.

Textual conflict: Interpretive tension; The passages pull in different directions, but the conflict depends on how their wording, scope, or narrative context is read.
Importance: Supporting; A supporting event, teaching, or biographical claim.

The narratives give substantially different routes into discipleship, yet do not identify every meeting, summons, and commitment as the same exclusive first event.

An editorial assessment of the quoted passages. Importance describes the stakes; it does not increase certainty. Reading order weighs both.

Jesus calls both brothers while they cast a net

Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

Mark 1:16-17

Translation / edition: King James Version (KJV)

Read the full chapter:Mark 1

And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Matthew 4:18-19

Translation / edition: King James Version (KJV)

Read the full chapter:

Matthew 4

Andrew follows John's testimony and brings Simon to Jesus

Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

John 1:35-42

Translation / edition: King James Version (KJV)

Read the full chapter:John 1

Simon follows Jesus after an extraordinary catch of fish

Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

Luke 5:4-11

Translation / edition: King James Version (KJV)

Read the full chapter:Luke 5

Understanding the contradiction

Mark 1:16-17 and Matthew 4:18-19 portray Jesus finding Simon and Andrew together at work beside the sea. He calls both directly and promises to make them fishers of people. John 1:35-42 gives Andrew a different route. He is already John's disciple, follows Jesus after John's testimony, spends time where Jesus stays, and then brings his brother Simon to meet him. Simon's introduction comes through Andrew rather than a joint summons at their nets.

Luke 5:4-11 places Simon's response after an unexpectedly large catch. Jesus directs the fishing, Simon reacts with fear and an admission of sin, and the fishermen abandon everything after bringing the boats ashore. James and John are named, while Andrew is not identified in the excerpt. These versions differ in participants, trigger, setting, and the role of the fishing miracle. They do not explicitly declare every scene the brothers' first and only contact with Jesus. The evidence establishes distinct narrative accounts of entering discipleship, with a direct contradiction depending on identifying all their stages as one event.

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contradictionMarkMatthewJohnLuke

Jesus calls both brothers while they cast a net

Andrew follows John's testimony and brings Simon to Jesus

Simon follows Jesus after an extraordinary catch of fish

Understanding the contradiction

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