Luke 5
The Calling of the First Disciples
1One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,
with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2he
saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing
their nets. 3He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to
Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught
the people from the boat.
4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into
deep water, and let down the
nets for a catch."
5Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and
haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."
6When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that
their nets began to break. 7So they signaled their partners in the
other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full
that they began to sink.
8When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said,
"Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" 9For he and all
his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10and
so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.
11Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you
will catch men." So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything
and followed him.