The First Disciples

As the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear God’s word,(A) he was standing by Lake Gennesaret.[a](B) He saw two boats at the edge of the lake; the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats,(C) which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then he sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”(D)

“Master,”(E) Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.”[b]

When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets[c] began to tear. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’s knees and said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!” (F) For he and all those with him were amazed(G) at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners.

“Don’t be afraid,”(H) Jesus told Simon. “From now on you will be catching people.”(I) 11 Then they brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed him.(J)

A Man Cleansed

12 While he was in one of the towns, a man was there who had leprosy[d] all over him.(K) He saw Jesus, fell facedown, and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

13 Reaching out his hand, Jesus touched him,(L) saying, “I am willing; be made clean,” and immediately the leprosy left him. 14 Then he ordered him to tell no one:(M) “But go and show yourself to the priest, and offer what Moses commanded for your cleansing as a testimony to them.”

15 But the news[e] about him spread even more, and large crowds would come together to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 Yet he often withdrew to deserted places and prayed.(N)

The Son of Man Forgives and Heals

17 On one of those days while he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law(O) were sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea, and also from Jerusalem. And the Lord’s power to heal was in him.(P) 18 Just then some men came,(Q) carrying on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed. They tried to bring him in and set him down before him. 19 Since they could not find a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the roof tiles into the middle of the crowd before Jesus.

20 Seeing their faith he said, “Friend,[f] your sins are forgiven.”

21 Then the scribes and the Pharisees(R) began to think to themselves, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (S)

22 But perceiving their thoughts, Jesus replied to them, “Why are you thinking this in your hearts?[g] 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he told the paralyzed man, “I tell you: Get up, take your stretcher, and go home.”

25 Immediately he got up before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God.(T) 26 Then everyone was astounded, and they were giving glory to God. And they were filled with awe(U) and said, “We have seen incredible things today.”

The Call of Levi

27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office,(V) and he said to him, “Follow me.” 28 So, leaving everything behind, he got up and began to follow him.

29 Then Levi hosted a grand banquet for him at his house. Now there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining at the table with them.(W) 30 But the Pharisees and their scribes(X) were complaining to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

31 Jesus replied to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a doctor, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

A Question about Fasting

33 Then they said to him, “John’s disciples fast often and say prayers, and those of the Pharisees do the same, but yours eat and drink.”

34 Jesus said to them, “You can’t make the wedding guests fast while the groom is with them, can you? 35 But the time[h] will come(Y) when the groom will be taken away from them—then they will fast in those days.”

36 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a patch from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. Otherwise, not only will he tear the new, but also the piece from the new garment will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, it will spill, and the skins will be ruined. 38 No, new wine is put into fresh wineskins.[i] 39 And no one, after drinking old wine, wants new, because he says, ‘The old is better.’”[j]

Footnotes

  1. 5:1 Another name for the Sea of Galilee
  2. 5:5 Other mss read net (Gk sg)
  3. 5:6 Other mss read net (Gk sg)
  4. 5:12 Gk lepros; a term for various skin diseases, also in v. 13; see Lv 13–14
  5. 5:15 Lit the word
  6. 5:20 Lit “Man
  7. 5:22 Or minds
  8. 5:35 Lit days
  9. 5:38 Other mss add And so both are preserved.
  10. 5:39 Or good

The First Disciples

(A)Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by (B)the lake of Gennesaret; and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. And (C)He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little distance from the land. And He sat down and continued teaching the crowds from the boat. Now when He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and (D)let down your nets for a catch.” Simon responded and said, “(E)Master, (F)we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but [a]I will do as You say and let down the nets.” And when they had done this, (G)they caught a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to tear; so they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, to the point that they were sinking. But when Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and likewise also were [b]James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, (H)Do not fear; from now on you will be (I)catching people.” 11 When they had brought their boats to land, (J)they left everything and followed Him.

A Man with Leprosy Healed

12 (K)While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man [c]covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 13 And He reached out with His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately the leprosy left him. 14 And He ordered him to tell no one, saying, “But go and (L)show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 15 But (M)the news about Him was spreading even farther, and large crowds were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus Himself would often slip away [d]to the [e]wilderness and (N)pray.

A Man Lowered Through a Roof

17 [f]One day He was teaching, and (O)there were some Pharisees and (P)teachers of the Law sitting there who had (Q)come from every village of Galilee and Judea, and from Jerusalem; and (R)the power of the Lord was present for Him to perform healing. 18 (S)And some men were carrying a man on a stretcher who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Him. 19 But when they did not find any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on (T)the roof and let him down (U)through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus. 20 And seeing their faith, He said, [g]Friend, (V)your sins are forgiven you.” 21 The scribes and the Pharisees (W)began thinking of the implications, saying, “(X)Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? (Y)Who can forgive sins, except God alone?” 22 But Jesus, [h]aware of their thoughts, responded and said to them, “Why are you thinking this way in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say: ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” He said to the (Z)man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher, and go home.” 25 And immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home (AA)glorifying God. 26 And [i]they were all struck with astonishment and began (AB)glorifying God. They were also filled (AC)with fear, saying, “We have seen remarkable things today!”

Call of Levi (Matthew)

27 (AD)After that He went out and looked at a tax collector named [j](AE)Levi sitting in the tax office, and He said to him, “Follow Me.” 28 And he (AF)left everything behind, and got up and began following Him.

29 And (AG)Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a large crowd of (AH)tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them. 30 (AI)The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling to His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and [k]sinners?” 31 And Jesus answered and said to them, (AJ)It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners.”

33 And they said to Him, “(AK)The disciples of John often fast and offer prayers, the disciples of the Pharisees also do [l]the same, but Yours eat and drink.” 34 And Jesus said to them, “You cannot make the [m]attendants of the groom fast while the groom is with them, can you? 35 (AL)But the days will come; and when the groom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” 36 And He was also telling them a parable: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old garment; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the patch from the new garment will not match the old. 37 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one, after drinking old wine wants new; for he says, ‘The old is fine.’”

Footnotes

  1. Luke 5:5 Lit upon Your word
  2. Luke 5:10 Or Jacob
  3. Luke 5:12 Lit full of
  4. Luke 5:16 Lit in
  5. Luke 5:16 Or deserted places
  6. Luke 5:17 Lit On one of the days
  7. Luke 5:20 Lit Man
  8. Luke 5:22 Or perceiving
  9. Luke 5:26 Lit astonishment took them all
  10. Luke 5:27 Also called Matthew
  11. Luke 5:30 I.e., irreligious Jews
  12. Luke 5:33 Lit likewise
  13. Luke 5:34 Lit sons of the bridal chamber