1
On one occasion the crowd was pressing on Him and listening to God's Message, while He was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.
2
He, however, saw two fishing-boats drawn up on the beach (for the men had gone away from them and were washing the nets),
3
and going on board one of them, which was Simon's He asked him to push out a little from land. Then He sat down and taught the crowd of people from the boat.
4
When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Push out into deep water, and let down your nets for a haul."
5
"Rabbi," replied Peter, "all night long we have worked hard and caught nothing; but at your command I will let down the nets."
6
This they did, and enclosed a vast number of fish; and their nets began to break.
7
So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came, and they filled both the boats so that they almost sank.
8
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at the knees of Jesus, and exclaimed, "Master, leave my boat, for I am a sinful man."
9
(For he was astonished and terrified--he and all his companions--at the haul of fish which they had taken;