Jesus was standing on the shore of Lake Gennesaret, teaching the
people as they crowded around him to hear God's message. Near the shore
he saw two boats left there by some fishermen who had gone to wash their
nets. Jesus got into the boat that belonged to Simon and asked him to
row it out a little way from the shore. Then Jesus sat down in the boat
to teach the crowd.
When Jesus had finished speaking, he told Simon, "Row the
boat out into the deep water and let your nets down to catch some fish."
"Master," Simon answered, "we have worked hard
all night long and have not caught a thing. But if you tell me to, I
will let the nets down." They did it and caught so many fish that
their nets began ripping apart. Then they signaled for their partners
in the other boat to come and help them. The men came, and together
they filled the two boats so full that they both began to sink.
When Simon Peter saw this happen, he knelt down in front of
Jesus and said, "Lord, don't come near me! I am a
sinner." Peter and everyone with him were completely surprised at
all the fish they had caught. His partners James and John, the sons of
Zebedee, were surprised too.
Jesus told Simon, "Don't be afraid! From now on you
will bring in people instead of fish." The men pulled their boats
up on the shore. Then they left everything and went with Jesus.
Luke 5:1-11
Contemporary English Version The Holy Bible (New
York , NY: American Bible Society 1995)