1 Now it came to pass, while the crowd pressed upon Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret,

2 and He saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen, [after] getting out of them, were washing their nets.

3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and He asked him to put out a little from the land. And sitting down, He began to teach the crowds from the boat.

4 Now when He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and lower your nets for a catch."

5 But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have labored all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will lower the net."

6 And when they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was tearing.

7 So they beckoned to their partners who were in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they were sinking.

8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"

9 For astonishment gripped him and all who were with him at the haul of fish which they had taken.

10 And likewise also [it gripped] James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not fear; from now on you shall be catching men."

11 And having brought the boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.