And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

LUKE 5:11KJV
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Luke 5:11 (KJV)

What does Luke 5:11 mean?

Luke 5:11 describes how, after bringing their boats to shore, the fishermen left everything behind and began to follow Jesus. This verse shows a decisive moment when these men made a complete break from their old way of life to become Jesus’ disciples.

In this scene, Jesus has just performed a miracle by filling Simon Peter’s nets with fish. The fishermen—Simon Peter, James, and John—respond by leaving their boats, nets, and livelihood. The verse highlights their total commitment, as they walk away from all they own and know in order to follow Jesus on his journey.

The Greek behind Luke 5:11

  • ἀφέντες (aphentes, "forsook"): This word means "to leave behind" or "to abandon." The Greek here carries the sense of a deliberate, complete departure, not just a temporary leaving.
  • πάντα (panta, "all"): This word means "everything" or "all things." The verse emphasizes that nothing was held back; the fishermen left every aspect of their former lives.
  • ἠκολούθησαν (ēkolouthēsan, "followed"): This word means "to follow" in the sense of becoming a disciple or companion. It suggests not just physical movement, but a commitment to a new way of life.

Why Luke 5:11 matters

  • Luke 5:11 clears up any idea that following Jesus was a casual or part-time decision for these men; the language stresses total commitment.
  • The verse connects to the wider story by showing the start of Jesus’ close group of disciples, who will play a major role throughout the Gospel.
  • The emphasis on leaving "all" behind highlights the cost and seriousness of discipleship, which is a recurring theme in Luke’s account.

Where else these words appear

“brought” Greek G2609 · used in 10 verses

  • Acts 9:30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
  • Acts 23:15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.
  • Acts 27:3 And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.

“all” Greek G537 · used in 43 verses

  • Matthew 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
  • Luke 8:37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.
  • Acts 2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

“ships” Greek G4143 · used in 64 verses

  • Matthew 4:21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
  • Mark 6:32 And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.
  • Acts 21:2 And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.

“followed” Greek G190 · used in 88 verses

  • Matthew 4:20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
  • Mark 6:1 And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.
  • John 1:38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi,(which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?