Jesus' First Followers
1 One day while Jesus was standing beside Lake Galilee, many people were pressing all around him to hear the word of God.2 Jesus saw two boats at the shore of the lake. The fishermen had left them and were washing their nets.3 Jesus got into one of the boats, the one that belonged to Simon, and asked him to push off a little from the land. Then Jesus sat down and continued to teach the people from the boat.
4 When Jesus had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Take the boat into deep water, and put your nets in the water to catch some fish."
5 Simon answered, "Master, we worked hard all night trying to catch fish, and we caught nothing. But you say to put the nets in the water, so I will."6 When the fishermen did as Jesus told them, they caught so many fish that the nets began to break.7 They called to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats so full that they were almost sinking.
8 When Simon Peter saw what had happened, he bowed down before Jesus and said, "Go away from me, Lord. I am a sinful man!"9 He and the other fishermen were amazed at the many fish they caught, as were 10 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.
Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid. From now on you will fish for people." 11 When the men brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Jesus.
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