Luke 5

Jesus’ First Followers

1 One day while Jesus was standing beside Lake Galilee, many people were pressing all around him to hear the word of God.2 Jesus saw two boats at the shore of the lake. The fishermen had left them and were washing their nets.3 Jesus got into one of the boats, the one that belonged to Simon, 

4 When Jesus had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Take the boat into deep water, and put your nets in the water to catch some fish.”
5 Simon answered, “Master, we worked hard all night trying to catch fish, and we caught nothing. But you say to put the nets in the water, so I will.”6 When the fishermen did as Jesus told them, they caught so many fish that the nets began to break.

7 They called to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats so full that they were almost sinking.
8 When Simon Peter saw what had happened, he bowed down before Jesus and said, “Go away from me, Lord. I am a sinful man!”9 He and the other fishermen were amazed at the many fish they caught, as were

10 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.
Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will fish for people.”

11 When the men brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Jesus.

Jesus Heals a Sick Man

12 When Jesus was in one of the towns, there was a man covered with a skin disease. When he saw Jesus, he bowed before him and begged him, “Lord, you can heal me if you will.”
13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man and said, “I will. Be healed!” Immediately the disease disappeared.14 Then Jesus said, “Don’t tell anyone about this, but go and show yourself to the priest 15 But the news about Jesus spread even more. Many people came to hear Jesus and to be healed of their sicknesses,

16 but Jesus often slipped away to be alone so he could pray.

Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man

17 One day as Jesus was teaching the people, the Pharisees and teachers of the law from every town in Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem were there. The Lord was giving Jesus the power to heal people.18 Just then, some men were carrying on a mat a man who was paralyzed. They tried to bring him in and put him down before Jesus.19 But because there were so many people there, they could not find a way in. So they went up on the roof and lowered the man on his mat through the ceiling into the middle of the crowd right before Jesus.

20 Seeing their faith, Jesus said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

21 The Jewish teachers of the law and the Pharisees thought to themselves, “Who is this man who is speaking as if he were God? Only God can forgive sins.”
22 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why are you thinking these things? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’?

24 But I will prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, stand up, take your mat, and go home.”
25 At once the man stood up before them, picked up his mat, and went home, praising God.

26 All the people were fully amazed and began to praise God. They were filled with much respect and said, “Today we have seen amazing things!”

Levi Follows Jesus

27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax collector’s booth. Jesus said to him, “Follow me!”

28 So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.
29 Then Levi gave a big dinner for Jesus at his house. Many tax collectors and other people were eating there, too.

30 But the Pharisees and the men who taught the law for the Pharisees began to complain to Jesus’ followers, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy people who need a doctor, but the sick.

32 I have not come to invite good people but sinners to change their hearts and lives.”

Jesus Answers a Question

33 They said to Jesus, “John’s followers often fast 34 Jesus said to them, “You cannot make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is still with them.

35 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.”
36 Jesus told them this story: “No one takes cloth off a new coat to cover a hole in an old coat. Otherwise, he ruins the new coat, and the cloth from the new coat will not be the same as the old cloth. 37 Also, no one ever pours new wine into old leather bags. Otherwise, the new wine will break the bags, the wine will spill out, and the leather bags will be ruined. 38 New wine must be put into new leather bags. 39 No one after drinking old wine wants new wine, because he says, ‘The old wine is better.’ ”

Luke 5

1 Now it came to pass, while the multitude pressed upon him and heard the word of God, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret;2 and he saw two boats standing by the lake: but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets.3 And he entered into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the multitudes out of the boat.4 And when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.5 And Simon answered and said, Master, we toiled all night, and took nothing: but at thy word I will let down the nets.6 And when they had done this, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes; and their nets were breaking;7 and they beckoned unto their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.8 But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.9 For he was amazed, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken;10 and so were also James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left all, and followed him.12 And it came to pass, while he was in one of the cities, behold, a man full of leprosy: and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.13 And he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou made clean. And straightway the leprosy departed from him.14 And he charged him to tell no man: but go thy way, and show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.15 But so much the more went abroad the report concerning him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed of their infirmities.16 But he withdrew himself in the deserts, and prayed.17 And it came to pass on one of those days, that he was teaching; and there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, who were come out of every village of Galilee and Judaea and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.18 And behold, men bring on a bed a man that was palsied: and they sought to bring him in, and to lay him before him.19 And not finding by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his couch into the midst before Jesus.20 And seeing their faith, he said, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this that speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?22 But Jesus perceiving their reasonings, answered and said unto them, Why reason ye in your hearts?23 Which is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say, Arise and walk?24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (he said unto him that was palsied), I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go unto thy house.25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his house, glorifying God.26 And amazement took hold on all, and they glorified God; and they were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to-day.27 And after these things he went forth, and beheld a publican, named Levi, sitting at the place of toll, and said unto him, Follow me.28 And he forsook all, and rose up and followed him.29 And Levi made him a great feast in his house: and there was a great multitude of publicans and of others that were sitting at meat with them.30 And the Pharisees and their scribes murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with the publicans and sinners?31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are in health have no need of a physician; but they that are sick.32 I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.33 And they said unto him, The disciples of John fast often, and make supplications; likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink.34 And Jesus said unto them, Can ye make the sons of the bride-chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?35 But the days will come; and when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, then will they fast in those days.36 And he spake also a parable unto them: No man rendeth a piece from a new garment and putteth it upon an old garment; else he will rend the new, and also the piece from the new will not agree with the old.37 And no man putteth new wine into old wine-skins; else the new wine will burst the skins, and itself will be spilled, and the skins will perish.38 But new wine must be put into fresh wine-skins.39 And no man having drunk old wine desireth new; for he saith, The old is good.