Jesus Calls His First Disciples

16 And as he* was passing by along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother, casting a net* into the sea (for they were fishermen). 17 And Jesus said to them, “⌊Follow⌋f me and I will make you become fishers of people.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and* followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John, and they were in the boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and* went away after him. 21 And they went into Capernaum and immediately on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue.g

A Man with an Unclean Spirit Healed

22 And they were amazed at his teaching, because he was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like the scribes. 23 And so then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, 24 saying, “⌊Leave us alone⌋,h Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” 25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And after* convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, the unclean spirit came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they began to discuss with one another, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands the unclean spirits and they obey him.” 28 And the report about him then went out everywhere in the whole surrounding region of Galilee.