And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

People's New Testament

4:21 Saw other two brethren. James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were fishermen also, are supposed to have been cousins of Jesus, probably were already disciples (Joh 1:29-42), but were now called to preparation for their great work.

In a ship. A small fishing vessel. The Revised Version says, boat, which gives the idea.

Scofield Reference Notes

[1] James

Two persons are called by this name in the N.T.

(1) James the son of Zebedee, an apostle Mt 10:2 and the brother of the apostle John, apart from whom he is never mentioned, and with whom, together with Peter, he was admitted to the especial intimacy of our Lord. Mt 17:1 Mk 5:37 9:2 14:33 He was martyred by Herod. Acts 12:2

(2) A son of Alphaeus (or Cleopas) and Mary the sister of Mary the mother of Jesus. See Scofield Note: "Mt 1:16" and brother of Joses. Mk 15:40. He was, therefore, a cousin of the Lord Jesus. He is called James "the less" Mk 15:40 lit. little, i.e. of shorter stature than James the son of Zebedee). He was an apostle. Mt 10:3 It has been conjectured that "Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus" Mt 10:3 was identical with the Juda of Lk 6:16 who is there called "of [i.e. 'son' or 'brother' as is has been variously translated] James." A Juda is mentioned with a James and Joses and Simon in Mk 6:3 as "brother" of our Lord (See Scofield Note: "Mt 13.55, marg.). Mt 13:55. The Gospels mention no other James who could be called the brother of the Lord Jesus, but James the less was certainly the son of Alphaeus and Mary the sister of our Lord's mother. The conclusion seems, therefore most probable that Mt 10:3 13:55 Mk 3:18 6:3 Lk 6:15 Acts 1:13 12:17 Mk 15:13 21:18 Gal 1:19 Gal 2:9,12 Jas 1:1 refer to James the less, son of Alphaeus and Mary, and cousin, or, according to Jewish usage, "brother" of the Lord Jesus. He was the author of the Epistle of James.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

21. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship-rather, "in the ship," their fishing boat.

with Zebedee their father, mending their nets: and he called them.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

4:18-22 When Christ began to preach, he began to gather disciples, who should be hearers, and afterwards preachers of his doctrine, who should be witnesses of his miracles, and afterwards testify concerning them. He went not to Herod's court, not to Jerusalem, among the chief priests and the elders, but to the sea of Galilee, among the fishermen. The same power which called Peter and Andrew, could have wrought upon Annas and Caiaphas, for with God nothing is impossible. But Christ chooses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. Diligence in an honest calling is pleasing to Christ, and it is no hinderance to a holy life. Idle people are more open to the temptations of Satan than to the calls of God. It is a happy and hopeful thing to see children careful of their parents, and dutiful. When Christ comes, it is good to be found doing. Am I in Christ? is a very needful question to ask ourselves; and, next to that, Am I in my calling? They had followed Christ before, as common disciples, Joh 1:37; now they must leave their calling. Those who would follow Christ aright, must, at his command, leave all things to follow him, must be ready to part with them. This instance of the power of the Lord Jesus encourages us to depend upon his grace. He speaks, and it is done.