Jesus stepped into the boat that belonged to Simon Peter and his brother
Andrew, and asked them to push it out a little into the lake, so that he
could talk to the people from it without being crowded too closely. They
pushed it out, and then Jesus sat in the boat, and spoke to the people,
as they stood upon the beach. After he had finished speaking to the
people, and had sent them away, he said to Simon Peter:

"Put out into the deep water and let down your nets to catch some fish."

[Illustration: _The net caught so many fishes they could not pull it
up_]

"Master," said Simon, "we have been fishing all night, and have caught
nothing; but if it is your will, I will let down the net again."

They did as Jesus bade them; and now the net caught so many fishes that
Simon and Andrew could not pull it up, and it was in danger of breaking.
They made signs to the two brothers, James and John, who were in the
other boat, for them to come and help them. They came, and lifted the
net, and poured out the fish. There were so many of them that both the
boats were filled, and began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw this, he was struck with wonder, and felt that it
was by the power of God. He fell down at the feet of Jesus, saying: "Oh
Lord, I am full of sin, and am not worthy of all this! Leave me, O
Lord."

But Jesus said to Simon, and to the others, "Fear not; but follow me,
and I will make you from this time fishers of men."

From that time these four men, Simon and Andrew, James and John, gave up
their nets and their work, and became disciples of Jesus.

On the Sabbath, after this, Jesus and his disciples went together to the
synagogue, and spoke to the people. They listened to him and were
surprised at his teaching; for while the scribes always repeated what
other scribes had said before, Jesus never spoke of what the men of old
time had taught, but spoke in his own name, and by his own power,
saying, "I say unto you," as one who had the right to speak. Men felt
that Jesus was speaking to them as the voice of God.

On one Sabbath, while Jesus was preaching, a man came into the synagogue
who had in him an evil spirit; for sometimes evil spirits came into men,
and lived in them and spoke out from them. The evil spirit in this man
cried out, saying:

"Let us alone, thou Jesus of Nazareth! What have we to do with thee?
Hast thou come to destroy us? I know thee; and I know who thou art, the
Holy one of God!"

Then Jesus