Jesus Calls His First Disciples

5 On one occasion, Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him [fn]to listen to the word of God. 2 He saw two boats moored beside the lake, but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one that was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and began teaching the crowds from the boat. 4 When he finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered [fn]him, “Master, we have worked hard throughout the entire night and have caught nothing, but at yoʋr word I will let down the [fn]net.” 6 When he and the men with him did so, they enclosed such a large number of fish that their [fn]net began to break. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and assist them, and they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus' knees and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” 9 For he and all who were with him were gripped with astonishment at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on yoʋ will be catching people.” 11 So they brought their boats to shore, left everything, and followed Jesus.