The First Disciples

1 aNow it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by bthe lake of Gennesaret;

2 and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets.

3 And aHe got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the 1people from the boat.

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

5 Simon answered and said, “aMaster, bwe worked hard all night and caught nothing, but 1I will do as You say and let down the nets.”

6 When they had done this, athey enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break;

7 so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink.

8 But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ 1feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!”

9 For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken;

10 and so also were 1James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “aDo not fear, from now on you will be bcatching men.”

11 When they had brought their boats to land, athey left everything and followed Him.