Book of Common Prayer

¹³ These things I have written to you who believe on the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life, and so that you may believe on the name of the Son of God. ¹⁴ And this is the trust that we have in him: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. ¹⁵ And if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we will have the petitions that we ask of him.

¹⁶ If anyone sees his brother sin a sin that is not unto death, let him ask, and he will give him life for those who do not sin unto death. There is a sin unto death, for which I do not say that a person should pray. ¹⁷ All unrighteousness is sin, but there is sin not unto death.

¹⁸ We know that whoever is born of God does not sin, but he who is begotten of God keeps himself, and that wicked one does not touch him.

¹⁹ We know that we are of God, and that the world is altogether set on wickedness. ²⁰ We know that the Son of God has come, and has given us a mind to know him who is true. And we are in him who is true through his Son Jesus Christ. This same is very God and eternal life.

²¹ Babes, keep yourselves
from idols.
Amen.

Christ preaches in the boat. The disciples leave everything and follow him. He cleanses the leper, heals the paralytic, calls Matthew, the customs officer, and eats with open sinners.

5 It came to pass, as the people pressed in upon him to hear the word of God, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret ² and saw two boats standing by the lake side. But the fishermen were gone out of them and were washing their nets. ³ And he entered into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people out of the boat.

⁴ When he had left speaking, he said to Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let slip your nets to make a catch. ⁵ And Simon answered and said to him, Master, we have laboured all night and have caught nothing. But at your word, I will loose forth the net.

⁶ And when they had so done, they netted a great multitude of fishes. And their net was tearing, ⁷ but they made signs to their fellow fishermen who were in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they were sinking back.

⁸ When Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Lord, go from me, for I am a sinful man. ⁹ For he was utterly astonished, as was everyone with him, at the haul of fish that they took; ¹⁰ and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, Fear not; from henceforth you shall catch men.

¹¹ And they brought the boats to land, and left everything, and followed him.