Matthew 4:12-20

Easy-to-Read Version

Jesus Begins His Work in Galilee^(A)

¹²Jesus heard that John was put in prison, so he went back to Galilee. ¹³But he did not stay in Nazareth. He went to live in Capernaum, a town near Lake Galilee in the area near Zebulun and Naphtali. ¹⁴He did this to give full meaning to what the prophet Isaiah said:

¹⁵“Listen, land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
    lands by the road that goes to the sea, the area past the Jordan River—
    Galilee, where those from other nations live.
¹⁶The people who live in spiritual darkness
    have seen a great light.
The light has shined for those
    who live in the land that is as dark as a grave.” ^(B)

¹⁷From that time Jesus began to tell people his message: “Change your hearts and lives, because God’s kingdom is now very near.^[a]”

Jesus Chooses Some Followers^(C)

¹⁸As Jesus was walking by Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Simon’s brother Andrew. These brothers were fishermen, and they were fishing in the lake with a net. ¹⁹Jesus said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you a different kind of fishermen. You will bring in people, not fish.” ²⁰Simon and Andrew immediately left their nets and followed him.

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