THE FIRST DISCIPLES

5 As the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear God’s word,m he was standing by Lake Gennesaret.n 2 He saw two boats at the edge of the lake; the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats,o which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then he sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat.

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”p

5 “Master,”q Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.”B

6 When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their netsB began to tear. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’s knees and said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!”r 9 For he and all those with him were amazeds at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners.

“Don’t be afraid,”t Jesus told Simon. “From now on you will be catching people.”u 11 Then they brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed him.v

A MAN CLEANSED

12 While he was in one of the towns, a man was there who had leprosy* all over him.w He saw Jesus, fell facedown, and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

13 Reaching out his hand, Jesus touched him,x saying, “I am willing; be made clean,” and immediately the leprosy left him. 14 Then he ordered him to tell no one:y “But go and show yourself to the priest, and offer what Moses commanded for your cleansing as a testimony to them.”

15 But the newsD about him spread even more, and large crowds would come together to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 Yet he often withdrew to deserted places and prayed.z