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In this lesson:
Gone fishing. Jesus gathers His disciples. Study Tip: Cling to the Bible, carve its lessons into your heart, and practice them in your life. |
The miraculous catch of fish.
By the Italian painter Jacopo Bassano (1510-1592) |
Who was -
Andrew -
A follower of John the Baptist who became one of the original twelve disciples (John 1:40). From Bethsaida, Andrew was the son of Jonas and a fisherman with his older brother Simon Peter when they were called by Jesus to become the first disciples. It is said that Andrew was crucified in Achaia for refusing to worship pagan gods.
James -
Another of the original twelve disciples. James was the son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21; Mark 1:19) and Salome (Mary's sister), Jesus' cousin, and older brother of the disciple John. Born into a wealthy family, James was a fisherman and partner with Peter (Luke 5:10) when Jesus called and made him part of His inner circle (along with Peter and John). He was allowed to witness the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36), the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42; Luke 8:49-55), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane while He waited to be arrested (Matthew 26:37;
Mark 14:32-34). Jesus nicknamed James and John the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17). Jesus predicted that James would
meet a bloody end (Matthew 20:23; Mark 10:38-39), and sure enough, James was the first of the twelve apostles to die (excluding Judas), killed by King Herod as documented in Acts 12:1-2.
John -
One of the original twelve disciples, John was the son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21-22; 10:2; Mark 1:19-20; 10:35; Luke 5:10-11) and Salome, the younger brother to the disciple James (Matthew 10:2), and a fisherman when called by Jesus. John's mother Salome and the Virgin Mary were sisters, making Jesus and John cousins. John was born in Palestine
(Bethsaida) into a wealthy family, was well connected, knew the high priest (John 18:15), captained a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee and gave up everything to follow the Messiah. Jesus nicknamed John and his brother James the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17) and John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7; and 21:20 refer to him as "the disciple whom Jesus loved," quite an honor. Along with Peter and James, John was part of Jesus' inner circle and was allowed to witness the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42), Jesus praying in Gethsemane while waiting to be arrested (Mark 14:32-34), and the Transfiguration (Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36). Unlike the other disciples who ran and hid when Jesus was arrested, John
followed Christ to Calvary, witnessed the crucifixion, and stayed by Jesus' side until the end. While dying on the cross, Jesus turned over His mother's care to John (John 19:26-27). After the crucifixion, John became a driving force for Christianity. Bold yet uneducated (Acts 4:13), John wrote "The Gospel According to ST. John", the Three Epistles of John, and the prophetic "The Revelation of John the Divine." Late in his life, the Romans exiled John to the island of Patmos, a penal colony in the Aegean Sea fifty miles offshore from Ephesus (in modern-day Turkey), for preaching the word of God (Revelation 1:9). He was eventually freed and died an old man around AD 98 in Ephesus. John was the last of the original twelve disciples to die and the only one to die a natural death.
Andrew -
A follower of John the Baptist who became one of the original twelve disciples (John 1:40). From Bethsaida, Andrew was the son of Jonas and a fisherman with his older brother Simon Peter when they were called by Jesus to become the first disciples. It is said that Andrew was crucified in Achaia for refusing to worship pagan gods.
James -
Another of the original twelve disciples. James was the son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21; Mark 1:19) and Salome (Mary's sister), Jesus' cousin, and older brother of the disciple John. Born into a wealthy family, James was a fisherman and partner with Peter (Luke 5:10) when Jesus called and made him part of His inner circle (along with Peter and John). He was allowed to witness the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36), the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42; Luke 8:49-55), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane while He waited to be arrested (Matthew 26:37;
Mark 14:32-34). Jesus nicknamed James and John the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17). Jesus predicted that James would
meet a bloody end (Matthew 20:23; Mark 10:38-39), and sure enough, James was the first of the twelve apostles to die (excluding Judas), killed by King Herod as documented in Acts 12:1-2.
John -
One of the original twelve disciples, John was the son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21-22; 10:2; Mark 1:19-20; 10:35; Luke 5:10-11) and Salome, the younger brother to the disciple James (Matthew 10:2), and a fisherman when called by Jesus. John's mother Salome and the Virgin Mary were sisters, making Jesus and John cousins. John was born in Palestine
(Bethsaida) into a wealthy family, was well connected, knew the high priest (John 18:15), captained a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee and gave up everything to follow the Messiah. Jesus nicknamed John and his brother James the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17) and John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7; and 21:20 refer to him as "the disciple whom Jesus loved," quite an honor. Along with Peter and James, John was part of Jesus' inner circle and was allowed to witness the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42), Jesus praying in Gethsemane while waiting to be arrested (Mark 14:32-34), and the Transfiguration (Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36). Unlike the other disciples who ran and hid when Jesus was arrested, John
followed Christ to Calvary, witnessed the crucifixion, and stayed by Jesus' side until the end. While dying on the cross, Jesus turned over His mother's care to John (John 19:26-27). After the crucifixion, John became a driving force for Christianity. Bold yet uneducated (Acts 4:13), John wrote "The Gospel According to ST. John", the Three Epistles of John, and the prophetic "The Revelation of John the Divine." Late in his life, the Romans exiled John to the island of Patmos, a penal colony in the Aegean Sea fifty miles offshore from Ephesus (in modern-day Turkey), for preaching the word of God (Revelation 1:9). He was eventually freed and died an old man around AD 98 in Ephesus. John was the last of the original twelve disciples to die and the only one to die a natural death.
The Gospel According to St. Luke
The King James Bible
The King James Bible
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Luke 5:1-11
Fishermen 1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. 4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. 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 he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: 10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. 11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him. |
Margin notes:
Lake of Gennesaret." (5:1) - Also called the Sea of Galilee, the Sea of Chinnereth (Numbers 34:11; Joshua 12:3; 13:27), or The Sea of Tiberias (John 6:1; 21:1). It is a large freshwater lake, thirteen miles long, seven miles wide, 150 feet deep, and in Jesus' day, surrounded by approximately thirty fishing villages. The fresh water of Galilee was the primary source of water for the area and supported a board agricultural base as well as other industries such as boat making and tanning. The Sea of Galilee sits 680 feet below sea level in a basin surrounded by mountains and suffers many unexpected storms. According to "Matthew, the Life Change Series", (Published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; pg. 65), "Cool air from the Mediterranean is drawn down through the narrow mountain passes and clashes with the hot, humid air lying over the lake" causing storms that sometimes include twenty-foot waves. "Prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land." (5:3) - "Asked him to put out a little from the land." "When he had left speaking." (5:4) - "When He had finished speaking." "For a draught." (5:4) - Means "for a catch." "Toiled all the night." (5:5) - Nighttime is the most productive time for net fishing. In the heat of the day, fish swim down deep out of the reach of nets seeking cooler water. Despite his initial misgivings, Peter put his trust in Jesus and was rewarded with a great catch. "They inclosed a great multitude of fishes." (5:6) - "They caught many fish." "The draught of the fishes." (5:9) - "The amount of fish." "Forsook all." (5:11) - Means, "Left everything behind." |
New Living Translation
Luke 5:1-11
The First Disciples
1 One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God.
2 He noticed two empty boats at the water's edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets.
3 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish."
5 "Master," Simon replied, "we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing. But if you say so, I'll let the nets down again."
6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear!
7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.
8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, "Oh, Lord, please leave me-I'm too much of a sinner to be around you."
9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him.
10 His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed.
Jesus replied to Simon, "Don't be afraid! From now on you'll be fishing for people!"
11 And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
The First Disciples
1 One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God.
2 He noticed two empty boats at the water's edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets.
3 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish."
5 "Master," Simon replied, "we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing. But if you say so, I'll let the nets down again."
6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear!
7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.
8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, "Oh, Lord, please leave me-I'm too much of a sinner to be around you."
9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him.
10 His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed.
Jesus replied to Simon, "Don't be afraid! From now on you'll be fishing for people!"
11 And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Key verses from this passage
"And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship." (5:3)
"Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake." (5:4-6)
"Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake." (5:4-6)
Today's Question:
1. What lessons can we learn from Peter in this passage?
Make God a part of your life by studying the Bible each day. Your Bible has more to teach than these lessons can cover.
1. What lessons can we learn from Peter in this passage?
Make God a part of your life by studying the Bible each day. Your Bible has more to teach than these lessons can cover.
Answer: (Do you agree?)
1. We can learn the two most important things needed to come to Christ. First, "like Peter we must recognize our own sinfulness. And then, like these fishermen, we must realize that we can't save ourselves. If we know that we need help, and if we know that Jesus is the only one who can help us, we will be ready to leave everything and follow him."
("Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream; page 1961).
Application thought for the day:
The disciples heard Jesus' message and left their homes, jobs, and everything they owned to follow Him. Chances are you will never be asked to make such a sacrifice. But are you willing to sacrifice your sins and leave them behind?
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Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; "The Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies"; "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible". All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2026 evolke
© 2026 evolke