Chapter 5:1-11 The First Disciples

5:1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon Him to hear the word of God, He stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
The people pressed upon Him - There was a glorious prospect of a plentiful harvest, but how few of these blades came to full corn in the ear! To hear with diligence and affection is well; but a preacher of the Gospel may expect that, out of crowds of hearers, only a few, comparatively, will fully receive the truth, and hold out to the end.
To hear the word of God - Του λογον του Θεου, The doctrine of God, or, the heavenly doctrine.

5:2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

And saw two ships standing by the lake - Or two fishing boats; which were, as the Arabic version renders it, "detained by anchors at the shore of the lake"; the one belonging to Peter and Andrew, and the other to Zebedee, and his two sons, James and John: but the fishermen were gone out of them - that is, either the above persons, or their servants: and were washing their net -; on shore; they having gathered a great deal of soil and filthiness, but had caught no fish; and therefore were cleansing their nets, in order to lay them up, finding it to be in vain to make any further attempts.

5:3 And He entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And He sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

And taught - out of the ship - They pressed so much upon Him on the land, through their eagerness to hear the doctrine of life, that He could not conveniently speak to them, and so was obliged to get into one of the boats; and, having pushed a little out from the land, He taught them. The smooth still water of the lake must have served excellently to convey the sounds to those who stood on the shore;

5:4 Now when He had left speaking, He said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

He said unto Simon, launch out into the deep - he spoke to Simon Peter, being the master of the vessel, to thrust it out, or put it off further into deep water, more convenient for fishing; and let down your nets for a draught - of fishes: His meaning is, that he would give orders to his servants, to put out the vessel to sea, to take their nets and cast them into the sea, in order to take and draw up a quantity of fish, which was their business.

5:5 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.

Simon - said - Master - ΕπιϚατα. This is the first place where this word occurs; it is used by none of the inspired penmen but Luke, and he applies it only to our blessed Lord. 

It properly signifies a prefect, or one who is set over certain affairs or persons: it is used also for an instructor, or teacher. 

Peter considered Christ, from what he had heard, as teacher of a Divine doctrine, and as having authority to command, etc.

5:6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

they enclosed a great multitude of fish - in their net, which by the secret divine power of Christ, were gathered together just in that place, where by His order they cast the net:
and their net brake - with the weight and number, of the fishes.

 
5:7 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.

We can have too much of a good thing, aye, 

too much even of the best things, 

for our poor frail vessel cannot hold all 

that God would be willing to put into it.

5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

he fell down at Jesus' knees - The Arabic and Persic versions read, "at" His "feet": he fell on his knees before Him, and threw himself prostrate at His feet, as a worshipper of Him, and a supplicant unto Him: saying, depart from me, for I am a sinful man - We must all, like Peter, own ourselves to be sinful men, therefore Jesus Christ might justly depart from us. But we must beseech Him that He would not depart; for woe unto us if the Savior depart from sinners!

5:9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

Far he was astonished, and all that were with him - His brother Andrew, and the servants they had with them to manage the vessel, and cast the nets: at the draught of the fishes they had taken - being so large and numerous, as the like was never seen, nor known by them before.

5:10 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.

Thou shalt catch men - Ανθρωπους εσῃ ζωγρων, Thou shalt catch men alive; this is the proper signification of the word.

5:11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed Him. 

They forsook all, and followed Him - God expects this from every person.... Jesus intended to call Peter, James, and John, to become His disciples; 

*and that they might see the propriety and importance of the call, 

He: -
1st. Teaches in their presence, that they may know His doctrine.
2dly. He Works a Miracle before their eyes, that they might see and be convinced of His power.
3dly. He Calls them to go forth with this doctrine, and through this power, that they might teach the ignorant, and be successful in their work.