The First Disciples
(Matthew 4:18–22; Mark 1:16–20; John 1:35–42)

1And it came to pass while the multitude was pressing on him to hear the word of God, and he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2that he saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3And he entered one of the ships, which was Simon's, and requested him to push out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the multitude from the ship. 4And when he had made an end of speaking, he said to Simon: Push out into the deep water, and let down your nets for a draught. 5And Simon answered and said to him: Master, we have toiled all night and have caught nothing; but at thy command, I will let down the net. 6And when they had done this, they inclosed a great number of fishes, and their net began to break; 7and they beckoned to their partners who were in the other ship, to come and help them. And they came and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. 8And when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at the knees of Jesus, and said: Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man. 9For amazement at the draught of fishes which they had caught had seized upon him and all that were with him; 10and in like manner also upon James and John the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon: Fear not; from this time forth you shall catch men. 11And when they had brought their ships to the land, they left all and followed him.

The Leper’s Prayer
(Matthew 8:1–4; Mark 1:40–45)

12And it came to pass, that he was in one of their cities; and 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. 13And stretching out his hand, he touched him, and said: I will; be clean. And immediately his leprosy departed from him. 14And he charged him to tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and make offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, that it may be a testimony to them. 15But his fame went abroad the more; and many multitudes came together to hear, and to be cured by him of their infirmities. 16And he withdrew to the deserts and prayed.

Jesus Heals a Paralytic
(Matthew 9:1–8; Mark 2:1–12)

17And it came to pass, on a certain day, that he was teaching, and there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was exerted to heal them. 18And behold, men brought, on a bed, a man who was a paralytic. And they sought how they might bring him in, and lay him before him. 19And finding no way by which they could bring him in, because of the multitude, they went up on the top of the house, and, through the tiling, let him down, with his bed, into the midst before Jesus. 20And when he saw their faith, he said to him: Man, your sins are forgiven you. 21And the scribes and Pharisees began to reason, saying: Who is this that utters impious words? Who can forgive sins but God alone? 22But Jesus perceived their reasonings, and answered and said to them: Why are you reasoning in your hearts? 23Which is easier, to say., Your sins are forgiven you; or to say, Arise and walk? 24But that you may know that the Son of man on the earth has power to forgive sins, (he said to the paralytic,) I say to you, Arise, and take up your bed, and go to your house. 25And he immediately arose before them, took up that on which he had been lying, and went away to his own house, glorifying God. 26And astonishment seized upon all, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying: We have seen strange things today.

Jesus Calls Levi
(Matthew 9:9–13; Mark 2:13–17)

27And after these things, he went out and saw a publican named Levi, sitting at the custom-house; and he said to him: Follow me. 28And leaving all, he arose and followed him.

29And Levi made him a great feast at his own house; and there was a great multitude of publicans and others, who reclined at table with them. 30And their scribes and the Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying: Why do you eat and drink with publicans and sinners? 31And Jesus answered arid said to them: They that are well have no need of a physician, but they that are sick. 32I have not come to call righteous men, but sinners, to repentance.

Questions about Fasting
(Matthew 9:14–15; Mark 2:18–20)

33And they said to him: Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink? 34And he said to them: Can you make the sons 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 shall they fast in those days.

The Patches and the Wineskins
(Matthew 9:16–17; Mark 2:21–22)

36And he spoke also a parable to them: No one patches an old garment with a piece taken from a new garment. If so, the new tears it, and the patch from the new suits not the old. 37And no one puts new wine into old bottles; if so, the new wine will burst the bottles, and it will be spilled, and the bottles will be destroyed. 38But new wine must be put into new bottles, and both will be preserved. 39And no one, after drinking old wine, immediately desires new; for he says: The old is better.