Who is Simon and Andrew? They are fishermen from Galilee. Why is this important? When Vespasian brought the legions to Galilee, a number of cities controlled by the upper class folded promptly and welcomed the Romans in. However, the cities controlled by separatists where the fishermen were their biggest supporters were the cities that were destroyed by the legions. Also worth noting: several of the names of 1st century rebellion leaders are echoed in the names of the apostles, and this could not possibly have been an accident.

For example, there was a revolt in Galilee in 48CE, led by the sons of Judas of Gamla: Jacob and Simon. These two were subsequently executed by the Romans for their trouble. The leaders of the rebels in Jerusalem were John of Giscala the Zealot, Eleazar ben Simon, and Simon bar Giora. Their sectarian violence doomed those in the city to starvation and disease. Here, they appear as apostles.

Jesus has the authority to call these fishermen to their doom, and they follow.