New Testament in a Year

Chapter 5

Jesus Calls the First Disciples.^{[a] 1} One day, as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with people crowding around him to hear the word of God, ² he caught sight of two boats at the water’s edge. The fishermen had gotten out of the boats and were washing their nets. ³ Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.

⁴ When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” ⁵ Simon answered, “Master, we worked hard throughout the night and caught nothing; but if you say so, I will let down the nets.” ⁶ When they had done this, they caught such a great number of fish that their nets were beginning to tear. ⁷ Therefore, they signaled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats to the point that they were in danger of sinking.

⁸ When Simon Peter saw what had happened, he fell at the knees of Jesus, saying, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” ⁹ For he and all of his companions were amazed at the catch they had made. ¹⁰ So too were Simon’s partners James and John, the sons of Zebedee. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will be catching men.” ¹¹ When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

¹² Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy.^[b] In one of the towns that he visited, a man appeared whose body was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate before him and pleaded for his help, saying, “Lord, if you choose to do so, you can make me clean.” ¹³ He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I do choose. Be made clean.” Immediately, the leprosy left him.

¹⁴ He then instructed him to tell no one. “Just go,” he said, “and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as prescribed by Moses. That will be proof for them.” ¹⁵ However, the reports about him continued to spread, so that large crowds assembled to listen to him and to be healed of their diseases. ¹⁶ But he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.