Jesus Calls the First Disciples

^18 (A)While walking by ^(B)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 fishermen. ¹⁹ And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you ^(C)fishers of men.”^{[a] 20} Immediately they left their nets and followed him. ²¹ And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. ²² Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

¹⁸ All this is from God, ^(A)who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us ^(B)the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹ that is, in Christ God was reconciling^[a] the world to himself, ^(C)not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us ^(D)the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ Therefore, ^(E)we are ambassadors for Christ, ^(F)God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. ^21 (G)For our sake he made him to be sin ^(H)who knew no sin, so that in him we might become ^(I)the righteousness of God.

Persecution Will Come

^16 (A)“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be ^(B)wise as serpents and ^(C)innocent as doves. ¹⁷ Beware of men, for ^(D)they will deliver you over to courts and flog you ^(E)in their synagogues, ^18 (F)and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, ^(G)to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. ^19 (H)When ^(I)they deliver you over, ^(J)do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for ^(K)what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. ^20 (L)For it is not you who speak, but ^(M)the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. ^21 (N)Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, ^22 (O)and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. ^(P)But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Have No Fear

²⁶ “So have no fear of them, ^(A)for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. ²⁷ What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on ^(B)the housetops. ²⁸ And ^(C)do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him ^(D)who can destroy both soul and body in hell.^[a]