Beginning of Jesus' Ministry

(Gospel of Mark 1:14 - 1:20)
After John was imprisoned, Jesus traveled through Galilee preaching the gospel of God.  "The time is come," he declared,  "when the reign of God on earth is imminent.  Repent of your sins and receive the gospel!"

Walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus caught sight of Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea -- for they were fishermen.  Jesus exhorted them, "Come along with me.  I will have you fish for people."  Immediately they put down their nets and followed him.

A little farther up the shore, Jesus saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in a boat mending their nets.  At once he called to them.  Leaving their father Zebedee and the hired men in the boat, they, too, came along with Jesus.

Notes
1. Most translations refer to Jesus proclaiming the "kingdom of God."  This means little.  God is not a hereditary monarch.  What it does mean is that he will reign and rule. Obviously, he already reigns in Heaven, so what Jesus is proclaiming is that God will soon reign on earth.  Therefore, it is in the best interests of men to repent of their sins and get in his good graces before it happens.

2. Jesus selects his disciples in what would seem an impulsive manner, no job interviews, examination of resumes, background checks, nothing.  The impression given is that he has some preternatural knowledge of the men he chooses and knows what he doing when he selects as his disciples simple fishermen with no religious training or experience in evangelizing.  The disciples do not hesitate, ask no questions.  They are apparently not given any choice in the matter: they are called and must go with Jesus.  Does Jesus compel them with some hypnotic power?  Why doesn't he give his disciples a chance to follow him freely, of their own volition, at least give them some time to think about what they are getting into?  (It makes a better story this way!)  So far the disciples seem a great deal like brainwashed cultists or zombies who wander off, leaving their jobs, to follow some stranger who merely calls to them.

3. So far Jesus has acquired 4 disciples, all Galilean fishermen, Simon (who would later be called Peter) and Andrew, brothers, and James and John, another pair of brothers, sons of Zebedee.  There is no indication he knew them in the past or that he had any personal connection with them.  A back story is totally absent.

4. There is no indication of the passage of time between the baptism of Jesus and the selection of his disciples, only what time necessary for John to get himself arrested and thrown into jail.