Fishermen in the Gospels

The Gospels reveal that Simon Peter had partners in his fishing business. Those who came to help Peter haul in a miraculous catch were his “partners in the other boat.” (Luke 5:3-7) Scholars explain that “fishermen could form ‘cooperatives’ . . . in order to bid for fishing contracts or leases.” This may have been the way that the sons of Zebedee, Peter, Andrew, and their partners obtained authorization to carry on their fishing business.

Whether these Galilean fishermen owned the boats and equipment they used is not specifically stated in the Scriptures. Some believe that they did. Jesus, in fact, is said to have boarded a boat “which was Simon’s.” (Luke 5:3) However, notes one specialized article on the subject, “it is at least possible that the boats were actually owned by the brokers and used by the cooperative.”