1st Sunday of Luke

Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong! ¹⁴Let all that you do be done in love.

¹⁵Now I beg you, brothers—you know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have set themselves to serve the saints— ¹⁶that you also be in subjection to such, and to everyone who helps in the work and labors. ¹⁷I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus; for that which was lacking on your part, they supplied. ¹⁸For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge those who are like that.

¹⁹The assemblies of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, together with the assembly that is in their house. ²⁰All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

²¹This greeting is by me, Paul, with my own hand. ²²If any man doesn’t love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be cursed. Come, Lord! ²³The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. ²⁴My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Now while the multitude pressed on him and heard the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. ²He saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. ³He entered into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.

⁴When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

⁵Simon answered him, “Master, we worked all night and caught nothing; but at your word I will let down the net.” ⁶When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking. ⁷They beckoned to their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. They came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. ⁸But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.” ⁹For he was amazed, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had caught;

¹⁰and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will be catching people alive.”

¹¹When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything, and followed him.