³ “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.^(A)

⁵ Simon answered, “Master,^(A) we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.^(B) But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

Jesus Calls His First Disciples^(A)

¹⁸ As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee,^(B) he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter^(C) and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ “Come, follow me,”^(D) Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ²⁰ At once they left their nets and followed him.^(E)

¹⁰ and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid;^(A) from now on you will fish for people.” ¹¹ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.^(B)

⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example.^(A) We were not idle when we were with you, ⁸ nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked^(B) night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. ⁹ We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help,^(C) but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.^(D)

⁹ Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked^(A) night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone^(B) while we preached the gospel of God to you.

⁷ So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

An Axhead Floats

6 The company^(A) of the prophets said to Elisha, “Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. ² Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to meet.”

And he said, “Go.”

³ Then one of them said, “Won’t you please come with your servants?”

“I will,” Elisha replied. ⁴ And he went with them.

They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. ⁵ As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. “Oh no, my lord!” he cried out. “It was borrowed!”

⁶ The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw^(B) it there, and made the iron float. ⁷ “Lift it out,” he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it.

⁶ Or is it only I and Barnabas^(A) who lack the right to not work for a living?