As Jesus was walking along the sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon Peter and his brother Andrew, mending their fishing nets.
Jesus said to them,
“Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Peter and Andrew followed Jesus.
As Jesus went a little farther, He saw two more brothers, James and John the sons of Zebedee. They were both in their fishing boats not too far from the shore.
Jesus called out to James and John to come and follow Him.
Great crowds had gathered around Jesus to hear Him teach and preach the word of God as He was walking by the Sea of Galilee.
Jesus saw a couple of empty boats near the shore. He got into one of the boats that belonged to Simon Peter, and asked Peter to shove the boat a little way from the shore.
Jesus sat in the boat and began teaching to the crowd.
When Jesus was done teaching, He told Simon Peter to get into the boat with his nets and head for deeper waters to put out his nets.
Simon Peter said,
“Master, we have worked hard all night and have been unable to catch any fish, but if you say so I will put the nets down as you wish.”
Peter did as Jesus had requested.
When they cast out their nets as Jesus had told them to do, the nets immediately began to fill with so many fish that the nets started to tear. They called for their partners in a nearby boat to help. They came and filled up both boats with so many fish that the boats began to sink.
When Simon Peter saw this, realizing that he was in the presence of the Messiah, he fell down before Jesus and said,
“Lord, go away from me; for I am a sinful man.”
James and John who were partners with Simon Peter in the fishing business were all amazed as was everyone that witnessed this miracle.
Jesus said to Simon,
“Don’t be afraid: From now on you will be a fisher of men.”
And as soon as they got the boats to shore, they immediately left their nets and their boats and followed Jesus.
