First Disciples Called

Andrew and John were the first followers. Soon Peter, Philip, and Nathanael (Bartholomew) joined them (see John 1:40, 43, 45 see on Mark 3:16—18). The followers did not at this time permanently discontinue their usual occupation and become disciples in the full sense of the word. Not until more than a year later, in the spring of a.d. 29, did they receive the call to permanent discipleship (see on Luke 5:1, 11). Only then could it be said that "they forsook all, and followed him" (Luke 5:11). The formal appointment of the Twelve came even later, during the summer of the same year (see on Mark 3:14).

John and Andrew desired to converse with Jesus concerning the declaration of v. 36, "Behold the Lamb of God!" They were not yet thinking of following Him in the formal sense of becoming regular followers (see on v. 43). It was now probably the late autumn or early winter of a.d. 27 (see The Chronology of Luke 3:1, 2). They followed Jesus intermittently for the next year and a half before He issued the call to permanent discipleship (see on Luke 5:11). Jesus' formal appointment of the Twelve did not take place till the late summer of a.d. 29 (see on Mark 3:13—19). The five who "followed" Jesus at the Jordan did so simply in the sense of accepting John's witness to His Messiahship.