³ Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.^(A)

⁵ Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.”^(A)

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

¹⁸ As he walked by 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 fishers.^{(A) 19} And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” ²⁰ Immediately they left their nets and followed him.^(B)

⁹ You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.^(A)

¹⁰ and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”^{(A) 11} When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.^(B)

⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not irresponsible when we were with you,^{(A) 8} and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day so that we might not burden any of you.^{(B) 9} This was not because we do not have that right but in order to give you an example to imitate.^(C)

⁶ Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?^(A)

⁷ So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

³⁴ You know for yourselves that I worked with my own hands to support myself and my companions.^(A)

³ and, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them, and they worked together—by trade they were tentmakers.^(A)