Mark 1:20

20 At that very moment he called them. They followed him, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired workers.

Mark 1:20 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 1:20

And straightway he called them
As soon as he saw them; for he was looking out for them, having appointed them long before to the service he now called them to;

and they left their father Zebedee with the hired servants, and went
after him.
It might seem unnatural, had they left their father alone in the ship, to have taken the care and management of it, and therefore it is added, "with the hired servants"; who were hired for that purpose, to assist in mending the nets, and casting them, and managing the ship, and conducting it from place to place, and therefore were not to be charged with want of humanity; and such was the power that went along with Christ's call, that notwithstanding natural affection to their parents, and the gain they might get by these servants and their trade, they cheerfully quitted all, and followed Christ; (See Gill on Matthew 4:22).

Mark 1:20 In-Context

18 Right away, they left their nets and followed him.

19 After going a little farther, he saw James and John, Zebedee's sons, in their boat repairing the fishing nets.

20 At that very moment he called them. They followed him, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired workers.

21 Jesus and his followers went into Capernaum. Immediately on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and started teaching.

22 The people were amazed by his teaching, for he was teaching them with authority, not like the legal experts.