Mark 1:20

20 Immediately he called them, and they left their father, Zavdai, in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.

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 Immediately they left their nets, and followed him.

19 Going on a little further from there, he saw Ya`akov the son of Zavdai, and Yochanan, his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets.

20 Immediately he called them, and they left their father, Zavdai, in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.

21 They went into Kafar-Nachum, and immediately on the day of Shabbat he entered into the synagogue and taught.

22 They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as having authority, and not as the Sofrim.