Where did Jesus first meet Simon Peter and Andrew? Matthew 4:18-19 and John 1:42-43 There is no contradiction here at all. The chronology of events becomes evident when viewing the grid below. In John 1:35ff, John the Baptist was with his disciples. He tells them that Jesus is the "Lamb of God" (v. 36) and they stay with Jesus a while (v. 37). In John 1:40-42, Andrew goes and gets Simon-Peter and they follow Jesus. Why? Because Andrew had spent time with Jesus and told Simon that Jesus was the Messiah (v. 41). Later, in Matt. 4:18, Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee and he sees Simon-Peter and Andrew as they were fishing. He had not asked them to follow Him until this point in verse 4:19. They do (4:20). There is no contradiction. Event | Matthew 4:18-20 | John 1:35-42 | John Baptist sees Jesus | | 35 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, | "Lamb of God" | | 36 and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" | John tells his disciples to come see the lamb. | | 39 He said to them, "Come, and you will see." So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. | Andrew followed Jesus. | | 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. | First, Andrew got Simon/Peter | | 41 He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah " (which translated means Christ ). | Andrew brings Simon to Jesus | | 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas " (which is translated Peter ). | Jesus by sea of Galilee, sees Andrew | 18 Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. | | Jesus says to Andrew and Simon, "Follow Me..." | 19 And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." 4:20 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. | |
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