Calling of the Disciples Story - Bible

One day, Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, which is also called the Sea of Galilee. The people crowded around him. They wanted to hear the word of God. Jesus saw two boats at the edge of the lake. The fishermen had left them and were washing their nets.

Jesus got into one of the boats. It belonged to Simon, who would later be called Peter. Jesus asked him to put the boat out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, 'Put out into deep water. Let down the nets for a catch.'

Simon answered, 'Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.'

When Simon and his brother Andrew did what Jesus said, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came. They filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees. He said, 'Go away from me, Lord. I am a sinful man!'

He and everyone with him were amazed at the catch of fish they had taken. So were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were Simon's partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, 'Don't be afraid. From now on you will fish for people.'

So they pulled their boats up on the shore. Then they left everything and followed Jesus.

A little while later, Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him. As he walked along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. Matthew was also called Levi. He was a tax collector. Many people hated tax collectors because they often took more money than they should have.

Jesus said to him, 'Follow me.'

Matthew got up and followed Jesus. He left everything behind. He left his money, his job, and his old life.

Later, Matthew held a great banquet for Jesus at his house. A large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law complained to Jesus' disciples. They asked, 'Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?'

Jesus answered them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor. It is the sick. I have not come to call the righteous. I have come to call sinners to turn away from their sins.'

Jesus also called other disciples. He found Philip and said to him, 'Follow me.' Philip found Nathanael and told him, 'We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law. The prophets also wrote about him. He is Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.'

Nathanael asked, 'Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?'

Philip answered, 'Come and see.'

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him. He said, 'Here is a true Israelite. There is nothing false in him.'

Nathanael asked, 'How do you know me?'

Jesus answered, 'I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.'

Nathanael said, 'Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the king of Israel!'

Jesus said, 'You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.' He then added, 'Very truly I tell you, you will see heaven open. You will see the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.'

Jesus chose twelve men to be his special disciples. Their names were Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James son of Zebedee, his brother John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus.

These men were not special or important. They were ordinary fishermen, a tax collector, and other common people. But Jesus saw something in them. He loved them and taught them. He changed their lives. They left everything to follow him. They became the first leaders of the church. They spread the good news about Jesus all over the world.

The Calling of the Disciples story teaches obedience and faith. It shows the value of following God’s calling in our lives. This story highlights commitment and discipleship.