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THE STORY OF THE FISHERMEN
When Jesus began to teach the people by the river Jordan, a few young
men came to him as followers, or disciples. Some of these men were
Andrew and John, Peter and Philip and Nathanael. While Jesus was
teaching near Jerusalem and in Samaria, these men stayed with Jesus; but
when he came to Galilee, they went to their homes and work, for most of
them were fishermen from the Sea of Galilee.
One morning, soon after Jesus came to Capernaum, he went out of the
city, by the sea, followed by a great throng of people, who had come
together to see him and to hear him. On the shore were lying two fishing
boats, one of which belonged to Simon and Andrew, the other to James and
John and their father Zebedee. The men themselves were not in the boats,
but were washing their nets near by.
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."
"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 spoke to the evil spirit in the man:
"Be still; and come out of this man!"
Then the evil spirit threw the man down, and seemed as if he would tear
him apart; but he left the man lying on the ground, without harm.
Then wonder fell upon all the people. They were filled with fear, and
said: "What mighty word is this? This man speaks even to the evil
spirits, and they obey him!"
After the meeting in the synagogue, Jesus went into the house where
Simon Peter lived. There he saw lying upon a bed the mother of Simon's
wife, who was very ill with a burning fever. He stood over her, and
touched her hand. At once the fever left her; she rose up from her bed
and waited upon them.
At sunset, the Sabbath day was over; and then they brought to Jesus from
all parts of the city those that were sick, and some that had evil
spirits in them. Jesus laid his hands upon the sick, and they became
well; he drove out the evil spirits by a word, and would not allow them
to speak.
Next
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THE STORY OF ADAM AND EVE
THE STORY OF NOAH AND THE ARK
THE STORY OF HAGAR AND ISHMAEL
THE STORY OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC
THE STORY OF JACOB
THE SALE OF A BIRTHRIGHT
THE STORY OF THE LADDER THAT REACHED TO HEAVEN
THE STORY OF JOSEPH
THE COAT OF MANY COLORS
THE DREAMS OF A KING
THE STORY OF THE MONEY IN THE SACKS
THE MYSTERY OF THE LOST BROTHER
THE STORY OF MOSES, THE CHILD WHO WAS FOUND IN THE RIVER
THE STORY OF THE GRAPES FROM CANAAN
THE STORY OF GIDEON AND HIS THREE HUNDRED SOLDIERS
THE STORY OF SAMSON, THE STRONG MAN
THE STORY OF RUTH, THE GLEANER
THE STORY OF DAVID
THE SHEPHERD BOY
THE STORY OF THE FIGHT WITH THE GIANT
THE STORY OF THE CAVE OF ADULLAM
THE STORY OF SOLOMON AND HIS TEMPLE
THE STORY OF ELIJAH, THE PROPHET
THE STORY OF JONAH AND THE WHALE
THE STORY OF THE FIERY FURNACE
THE STORY OF DANIEL IN THE LION'S DEN
THE STORY OF THE ANGEL BY THE ALTAR
THE STORY OF JESUS
THE BABE OF BETHLEHEM
THE STORY OF THE STAR AND THE WISE MEN
THE STORY OF THE CHILD IN THE TEMPLE
THE STORY OF THE WATER THAT WAS TURNED INTO WINE
THE STORY OF THE STRANGER AT THE WELL
THE STORY OF THE FISHERMEN
THE STORY OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
THE STORY OF THE MIRACLE WORKER
THE GOOD SHEPHERD AND THE GOOD SAMARITAN
THE STORY OF THE PALM BRANCHES
THE STORY OF THE BETRAYAL
THE STORY OF THE EMPTY TOMB
THE STORY OF THE MAN AT THE BEAUTIFUL GATE
THE STORY OF STEPHEN, THE FIRST MARTYR
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