Jesus Chooses Some Followers^(A)

¹⁶ Jesus was walking by Lake Galilee. He saw Simon^[a] and his brother Andrew. These two men were fishermen, and they were throwing a net into the lake to catch fish. ¹⁷ Jesus said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you a different kind of fishermen. You will bring in people, not fish.” ¹⁸ So they immediately left their nets and followed Jesus.

¹⁹ Jesus continued walking by Lake Galilee. He saw two more brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in their boat, preparing their nets to catch fish. ²⁰ Their father Zebedee and the men who worked for him were in the boat with the brothers. When Jesus saw the brothers, he told them to come. They left their father and followed Jesus.

Jesus Chooses Some Followers^(A)

5 As Jesus stood beside Lake Galilee,^[a] a crowd of people pushed to get closer to him and to hear the teachings of God. ² Jesus saw two boats at the shore of the lake. The fishermen were washing their nets. ³ Jesus got into the boat that belonged to Simon. He asked Simon to push off a little from the shore. Then he sat down in the boat and taught the people on the shore.

⁴ When Jesus finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Take the boat into the deep water. If all of you will put your nets into the water, you will catch some fish.”

⁵ Simon answered, “Master, we worked hard all night trying to catch fish and caught nothing. But you say I should put the nets into the water, so I will.” ⁶ The fishermen put their nets into the water. Their nets were filled with so many fish that they began to break. ⁷ They called to their friends in the other boat to come and help them. The friends came, and both boats were filled so full of fish that they were almost sinking.

^8-9 The fishermen were all amazed at the many fish they caught. When Simon Peter saw this, he bowed down before Jesus and said, “Go away from me, Lord. I am a sinful man!” ¹⁰ James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were amazed too. (James and John worked together with Simon.)

Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on your work will be to bring in people, not fish!”

¹¹ The men brought their boats to the shore. They left everything and followed Jesus.