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Epiphany · Third Sunday after the Epiphany · Year A

Matthew 4:12-25

Jesus Calls the First Disciples and Begins His Galilean Ministry

January 25, 2026

The Calling of the Apostles Peter and Andrew, Duccio di Buoninsegna
The Calling of the Apostles Peter and Andrew, Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1308–1311National Gallery of Art, Washington
From the Maestà. The two brothers stand up in a boat full of fish, on a gold sea, while Christ beckons from the shore.As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea … “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”Duccio di BuoninsegnaThe founder of Sienese painting, who kept the gold and the Byzantine patterns while letting real feeling into the faces.National Gallery of Art, WashingtonGiven to the United States by Andrew Mellon in 1937 on condition it carry no founder's name, so that others would give to it too.National Gallery of Art, Washington
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelMatt. 4:12-25Mt 4:12-25
Epistle1 Cor. 1:10-181 Cor 1:10-18
Old TestamentIsa. 9:1-4Is 9:1-4
PsalterPs. 27:1-9 (10-14)Ps 27:1-9 (10-14)

Overview & Insights

"Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19)

After John is arrested, Jesus withdraws to Capernaum in Galilee, fulfilling Isaiah's word about light dawning on a people in darkness, and begins preaching that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. He calls two pairs of fishing brothers, Peter and Andrew, then James and John, who leave their nets at once, and he goes throughout Galilee teaching, proclaiming the good news, and healing every disease and affliction.

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Take it further: Matthew 4:12-25

Commentary

Commentary on Matthew 4:12-23Commentary on Mt 4:12-23 Working Preacher

Reads Jesus' move to Capernaum as the third of Matthew's prophecy fulfilling relocations.

Matthew 4:12-23 CommentaryMt 4:12-23 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

A Reformed homiletical read on the immediacy of the fishermen's response.

Matthew 4 CommentaryMt 4 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse by verse evangelical notes on the call of the four and the scope of Jesus' Galilean ministry.

Matthew 4:12 CommentariesMt 4:12 Commentaries BibleHub

A one stop aggregator of classic public domain commentaries on the passage.

Gospel: Matthew 4:12-25 (Epiphany 3: Series A)Gospel: Mt 4:12-25 (Epiphany 3: Series A) 1517.org

A Lutheran preaching resource on the abrupt, bang like start of the disciples' life with Jesus.

A Poor Church for the Poor, Epiphany 3 (A) Sermons That Work · Episcopal Church

An Episcopal sermon on Jesus calling ordinary working people rather than the powerful.

Background & Word Study

Matthew 4:12 InterlinearMt 4:12 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek text word by word for fishers of men and the light dawning on darkness.

Matthew 1-13 VideoMt 1-13 Video BibleProject

A visual walkthrough of Matthew's opening chapters, where this call story sits.

The Church Fathers

Matthew 4 CatenaMt 4 Catena Catena

Patristic comment on the calling of the four fishermen collected verse by verse.

Video

Talking Shop: Matthew 4:12-25 (Epiphany 3: Series A)Talking Shop: Mt 4:12-25 (Epiphany 3: Series A) 1517.org

A Lutheran round table on preaching this exact text.

Study Hub

Matthew 4:12-23Mt 4:12-23 Textweek

A broad link hub for anyone who wants to keep digging beyond this list.

Podcast

SB521 - Third Sunday after Epiphany Working Preacher

Luther Seminary faculty talk through all four texts for this Sunday.

Art & Music

Third Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A Vanderbilt

Curated art keyed to this exact set of readings.

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