Jesus’ First Followers

5 One day while Jesus was standing beside ·Lake Galilee [^Lthe Lake of Gennesaret; ^Canother name for the Sea of Galilee], many people were ·pressing [crowding] all around him to hear the word of God. ² Jesus saw two boats at the shore of the lake. The fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. ³ Jesus got into one of the boats, the one that belonged to Simon [^CPeter], and asked him to push off a little from the ·land [shore]. Then Jesus sat down and continued to teach the people from the boat.

⁴ When Jesus had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Take the boat into deep water, and ·put [let down] your nets in the water to catch some fish.”

⁵ Simon answered, “Master, we ·worked [labored] hard all night trying to catch fish, and we caught nothing. But ·you say [because you say; ^Lupon your word] to put the nets in the water, so I will.” ⁶ When the fishermen did as Jesus told them, they caught so many fish that the nets began to ·break [tear]. ⁷ They ·called [signaled; motioned] to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats so full that they were almost sinking.

⁸ When Simon Peter saw what had happened, he bowed down ·before [^Lat the knees of] Jesus and said, “Go away from me, Lord. I am a sinful man!” ⁹ [^LFor] He and the other fishermen were amazed at the many fish they caught, as were ¹⁰ James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will ·fish for people [catch people; ^Tbe fishers of men].” ¹¹ When the men brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Jesus.