Biblical commentary on the New Testament - The Christian ...

354 Luke V. 1-5.
ovvayojyalc: ri'ig TaXcAaia^), resumes the indefinite character. It is,
therefore, uncertain Avhether this narrative should be connected im-
mediately with the preceding.
AVith resj^ect to the narrative itself of Peter's draught of fishes,
it has been already remarked, in the note on Matth iv. 18, that in
the mere outline there given of the calling of Peter (on which event
John alone sheds adequate light), the mention of the circumstance,
that Peter was called to become a fisher of men, was introduced
into the picture merely as an individual feature, without our being
able to maintain that this expression of our Lord's was uttered immediately
at his first meeting with Peter. Luke details here more
circumstantially the occurrence, in connection with which our Lord
designated Peter a fisher of men ; but he takes for granted that
Jesus had, on a former occasion, become acquainted with Peter, and
only shews how, on this occasion, the exalted greatness of Jesus
opened upon him with unsuspected splendour, and thus powerfully
attaclied him to his person, (The Lake of Grenuesaret, on the shore
of which Christ here appears as teaching, derives its name from the
district Tewrjadp. Josephus says [B. J. iii. 10, 7] : 'H 61 Xijxvr] Vev-
V7]odp d-nb rTig 7rpoo-e;^oi5f %wpa^ KaXeirai. The lake is also called OdXaa-
aa r?ig TaXiXaiag, Matth. iv, 18. In the Old Testament it is called
nnsa t:\, Sea of Chinnereth, Josh, xiii. 27. The Chaldee spelling of
the name has the various forms, nsra, i3i-a, lo'iaa [See Winer's
" Eealworterbuch," s. v.] The extent of the lake is given by Jose-
phus {ut Slip.) as 120 stadia in length, and 40 in breadth.
Ver. 2, 3.—The pressure of the people caused Jesus to leave
the land and enter one of the boats. This was drawn up on land,
as was usually the case with small vessels ; Jesus desired Peter, to
whom the boat belonged, to push it off from the land into deep
water (dTrb rTjg yTjg tTravayayelv), and then taught from the ship, un-
molested by the crowding of the multitude.. This setting of the
boat afloat is to be distinguished from the bringing it out into the
midst of the sea (iiravayaynv elg rb [3d0og = altum., ver. 4), which
was done for the j)urpose of fishing.
Ver. 4, 5.—After his discourse was finished, and the people, con-
sequently, dismissed, our Lord orders Peter to cast out the net for
a draught, (XaXd^o), properly " to slacken," " let go"
then " to sink,'^ " let down.") Peter, disheartened by a whole
—
e. g., a bow,
night's unsuccessful toil—a circumstance which shews, that at that
time the Apostles still pursued their business, at times at least
complies, more out of deference to the dignity of Jesus, than from
faith in a successful result. (Luke alone uses 'E~ioTdr?]g, Master.
See viii. 24, 45 ; ix. 33, 49 ; xvii. 13, He calls Jesus by that name
instead of the Hebrew " Ptabbi," which he could not assume, as
—