One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,
with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he
saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were
washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to
Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and
taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to
Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Simon
answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught
anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." When they had
done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to
break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help
them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from
me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" For he and all his companions were
astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and
John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon,
"Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." So they pulled their
boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.