"As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting their nets into the sea--for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called to them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him."
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The Study Bible points out that the first four disciples, according to Mark, are two sets of two brothers. It also notes that "the author likes the number two (6.24; 8.28; 9.27; 10.10, 29; 14.17, 19; 18.8-9, 15-20; 20.21, 24,3; 21.1, 28; 22.40; 24.40-41; 25.15, 17, 22; 26.60; 27.38) and will give two accounts of essentially the same story (coming up in 9.27-31 = 20.29-34 and 9.32-34 = 12.22-24). Simon, who is called Peter, is the most prominent disciple; while James, son of Zebedee, is called out in this way so as not to be confused with Jesus' brother James. It is also pointed out that fishermen were from the lower social strata.
So here Jesus displays his first other-worldly powers. He merely walks up to four people working at their jobs, says "Come with me" and they do. Seemingly no questions asked by them, no reasons given by him. He says the word, they drop what they are doing and follow.
I would think the second set of men would be the strangest: their dad is right there with them, and they decide to leave. It is, of course, possible that one or more of these first four disciples also had families at home. I'd guess they didn't stop to say goodbye. It is very remarkable, to say the least, and points to a supernatural gift on the part of Jesus, in my opinion. It challenges the notion that he was fully a man. He has a divine plan, and special power to enact it.
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