Matthew 4:18-22 - Jesus Calls His First Disciples

¹⁸ And as Jesus was walking by 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 saith to them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. ²⁰ Then immediately quitting their nets they followed him.

²¹ And going on from thence, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. ²² Then they instantly quitting the ship and their father, followed him.

¹⁶ And as he walked near the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.

¹⁷ And Jesus said to them, Come after me, and I will appoint you to be fishers of men: ¹⁸ and immediately leaving their nets, they followed him. ¹⁹ And going from thence a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, and others in the vessel mending the nets. ²⁰ And immediately he called them: and leaving their father Zebedee in the vessel with the hirelings, they went after him.

²¹ And they entered into Capernaum; and immediately on the sabbath going into the synagogue, he taught.

¹ AND it came to pass, as the multitude were thronging upon him, in order to hear the word of God, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret: ² and he saw two vessels a-ground near the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and washing their nets. ³ Then he went on board one of the vessels, which was Simon's, and desired him to put off a little from the land: and sitting down, he taught the multitudes out of the vessel.

⁴ And when he ceased speaking, he said to Simon, Go off into deep water, and shoot your nets for a draught.

⁵ And Simon answering, said unto him, Sir, we have been toiling all night, and have taken nothing: but at thy command I will shoot the net.

⁶ And having done so, they inclosed a prodigious multitude of fishes; and their net was broken. ⁷ And they made signals to their partners in the other vessels, that they should come to their assistance. And they came, and filled both the vessels, so that they were ready to founder.

⁸ Then Simon Peter seeing it, fell down on his knees before Jesus, saying, Go from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord! ⁹ For amazement had seized on him, and on all who were with him, at the draught of fishes which they had taken: ¹⁰ as also on James and John the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, Fear not: henceforward thou shalt catch men. ¹¹ And when they had brought their vessels on shore, they left all, and followed him.