THE WONDERFUL DRAUGHT OF FISHES

: New Testament Stories

One day, as the crowds pressed round Him to hear the Word of God,

Jesus came to the Lake of Gennesaret and saw two boats drawn up on the

shore. Now one of these belonged to a man named Simon Peter, who was

at the water's edge washing his nets. Jesus entered into this boat and

asked Simon to push it off from the land a little. Then He sat down

and taught the people from the boat. And when He had done speaking to

them He
said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep, and let down your

nets for a draught of fishes." Simon, answering Him, said, "Master, we

have toiled all through the night and have taken nothing, but as you

wish it I will let down the net again." And they let down the net into

the sea, but it enclosed so great a multitude of fishes that they

could not draw them up; and the net brake. Then Simon beckoned to his

partners, James and John, who were in the other boat, that they should

come and help them. And they came and filled both boats with the

fishes, so that they began to sink.



When Simon Peter saw it he fell down before Jesus, saying, "Depart

from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." For he and all that were with

him were astonished at the marvellous draught of fishes which they had

taken. And Jesus said unto Simon, "Fear not, Simon Peter; from

henceforth thou shalt be a fisher of men." Meaning that he was to go

about winning souls for God, instead of being a fisherman.



And when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all they

had and followed Christ.



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