¹⁶ You did not choose me, but ^(A)I chose you and appointed you that you should go and ^(B)bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that ^(C)whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

^18 (A)While walking by ^(B)the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you ^(C)fishers of men.”^{[a] 20} Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

^3 (A)Blessed be ^(B)the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing ^(C)in the heavenly places, ^4 (D)even as he ^(E)chose us in him ^(F)before the foundation of the world, that we should be ^(G)holy and blameless before him. In love ^5 (H)he predestined us^[a] for ^(I)adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, ^(J)according to the purpose of his will, ^6 (K)to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in ^(L)the Beloved.

¹⁰ In this is love, ^(A)not that we have loved God ^(B)but that he loved us and sent his Son to be ^(C)the propitiation for our sins.