Matthew 4:19

Fishers of men] 'The fisherman Peter did not lay aside his nets but changed them' (Aug.).

21. According to Lk the four fishermen were partners.

22. St. Mark mentions that there were hired servants in Zebedee's boat, which indicates that the family was not poor. St. John was known to the high priest, and probably had a house in Jerusalem (John 18:16; John 19:27) St. Matthew was rich. It cannot be shown that any of the apostles were specially poor or of a mean social position. 'Unlearned and ignorant men' (Acts 4:13), simply means that they had not been trained in the schools of the rabbis. Manual labour was honourable among the Jews, and even the sons of the wealthy were taught trades.