The First Disciples
(Matthew 4:18–22;Mark 1:16–20;John 1:35–42)
1And when the people were pressing on Him to hear the word of God, as He stood by the lake of Gennesareth, seeing two vessels atthe edge of the lake,2(but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washingtheir nets:)3He went into one of them, which was Simon's, and desired him to put off a littleway from the shore: and He sat down and taught the multitudes from the ship.4And when He had done speaking, He said to Simon,Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.5And Simon answered and said unto Him, Master, we have been toiling all the night, and have caught nothing; however at thy word I will cast the net.6And when they had done this, they inclosed a multitude of fishes; and their net was breaking.7And they beckoned totheir partnersthat were in the other ship, to come and help them; and they came, and filled both the ships, so that they wereeven sinking: and when Simon Peter sawit,8he fell at the knees of Jesus, saying, Lord, depart from me, for I am a sinful man;9for he was astonished, and allthat were with him, at the draught of fishes which they had taken;10as were also James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon,Be not afraid, from henceforth thou shalt be a captor of men.11And when they had brought their ships to land, they left all and followed Him.
The Leper’s Prayer
(Matthew 8:1–4;Mark 1:40–45)
12And when He was in one of the citiesof that country, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus, fell prostrateto Him, and besought Him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst cleanse me.13AndJesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying,I will; be thou cleansed: and immediately the leprosy departed from him.14And He charged him to tell no one:but go,said He,and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.15But the fame of Him spread moreand more, and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.16But Hefrequently retired into solitary places, and prayed.
Jesus Heals a Paralytic
(Matthew 9:1–8;Mark 2:1–12)
17And one day, as He was teaching, there were pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, who were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, andfrom Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord waspresent to heal the people:18and behold,some men bringing on a couch a man that was paralytic; and they endeavoured to bring him in, and layhim before Him:19but when they could not find whatway to bring him in because of the croud, they went up onthe battlements of the house, and let him down from the roof withhis couch, into the midst before Jesus,20who seeing their faith said unto him,Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.21And the scribes and pharisees began to cavil, saying, Who is this that talketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God?22but Jesus knowing their thoughts, answered and said unto them,What are ye disputing in your hearts?23Which is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee, or to say, Rise up and walk?24but that ye may know, that the Son of man hath powereven on earth to forgive sins, (He spake to the paralytic)I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go to thine house.25And immediately he rose up before them, took upthe bed on which he lay, and went away to his house, glorifying God.26And they were all amazed and glorified God, and were filled with awe, saying, we have seen wonderfulthings to-day.
Jesus Calls Levi
(Matthew 9:9–13;Mark 2:13–17)
27After thesethings He went out and saw a publican named Levi, sitting at the custom-house, and said to him,Follow me:28and he left all, rose up, and followed Him.29And Levi made Him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great number of publicans, and others at table with them.30And their scribes and pharisees murmured at his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?31And Jesus answered and said unto them,They that are in health have no need of a physician, but they that are sick: I am not come to call the righteous,32but sinners to repentance.
Questions about Fasting
(Matthew 9:14–15;Mark 2:18–20)
33And they said unto Him, Why do the disciples of John frequently fast and pray, and likewise those of the pharisees; but thine eat and drink?34And He said unto them,Can ye make those of the bride-chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?35but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, then they will fast.
The Patches and the Wineskins
(Matthew 9:16–17;Mark 2:21–22)
36Then He spake a parable to them,That no one putteth a piece of new cloth upon an old garment: otherwise, the new maketh a rent, and doth not match the old:37nor doth any one put new wine in to old vessels; otherwise, the new wine will burst the casks, and be spilled, and the vessels will be destroyed:38but new wine must be put into new vessels, andthen both are saved.39And no one that has been drinking oldwine, immediately desireth new; for he saith, the old is better.
