Matthew 10; Luke 5:1–11; 6:12–16
Jesus Chooses His Apostles
An invitation to be “fishers of men”
One day, people came to the Sea of Galilee to hear Jesus teach. Jesus taught them from a boat while they listened on the shore. The boat belonged to a fisherman named Simon.
When Jesus finished teaching, He asked Simon to take the boat to the deep part of the sea. He told Simon to put his net in the water to catch some fish. Simon said that he had been fishing all night and didn’t catch any fish. But because Jesus asked him, he would try again.
Simon caught so many fish that his net broke! He called to his friends in another boat to help him. Soon the boats were so full of fish, they began to sink. Simon and his friends were amazed!
Simon knelt before Jesus. He said, “I am a sinful man, O Lord.” He knew that Jesus was sent from God. Jesus told him not to be afraid.
Jesus invited Simon, his brother Andrew, and his friends, James and John, to follow Him. Instead of catching fish, they would help people come to Jesus.
Simon, James, and John left their fishing boats and became Jesus’s Apostles. Later, Jesus gave Simon the name Peter. An Apostle is a special witness of Jesus Christ. Jesus called 12 men to be His Apostles. He prayed to know who He should call. He gave His Apostles priesthood authority to lead His Church.
Matthew 10; Luke 6:12–16; 9:1–2
Because the Apostles had the power of God, they could also heal people who were sick, bring people back to life after they had died, and do other miracles.
Jesus sent His Apostles to many cities to teach people His gospel. He said that the Holy Spirit would help them know what to say. Jesus said some people wouldn’t like what they taught, but as they served faithfully, God would be with them.