Bible Stories for Adults

Peter's Catch of Fish

Luke 5:1-11

Next Week - Jesus Heals at Capernaum (Mark 1:21-39; Luke 4:31-31)
Bible Words to Remember:
Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 2 Corinthians 3:4-5

After being baptized and resisting Satan's temptations, where did Jesus go to begin His ministry?
Luke 4:14
What did He do there?
Matthew 4:23-25

Was He welcomed as the Messiah or as a traveling rabbi?
Luke 4:15-16, 20
Did the people in His hometown synagogue understand His message?
Luke 4:22
How did Jesus respond to His past neighbors watching a show and ignoring His message?
Luke 4:24-27
Did the people understand any of Jesus' sermon?
Luke 4:28
How upset were they?
Luke 4:29
How far did they get?
Luke 4:30
Why were they unable to kill Him?
John 2:4b

After such rejection by His hometown, did Jesus go off by Himself to re-assess His ministry?
Luke 4:31-32
How are we to respond to rejection when we bring the good news of Jesus to others?
Matthew 10:14-15
Was Capernaum just a stopping point on the way to other places?
Matthew 4:13
What was significant about Jesus living in Capernaum?
Matthew 4:14-16
Did Jesus settle back and spend most of His time in Capernaum?
Luke 4:42-44

Did this popularity create any other problems for Jesus besides a lack of privacy?
Luke 8:42b
What problem did the crowds present to Jesus in today's story?
Luke 5:1

Notes: Sea of Galilee was also called Lake of Gennesaret and Sea of Tiberias, Up to 150' deep
Gennesaret was a 3x5 mile fertile plain S of Capernaum & NW of Sea of Galilee
Tiberias was a city named after Roman emperor on SW shore of Sea of Galilee

What did Jesus see that let Him creatively solve His problem and still minister to the people?
Luke 5:2

Notes: Fish was a common part of Palestinian diet, Sea of Galilee was full of various fish
Galilee fish stayed in the depths during the day
Rose at night to feed on the surface in shallower water
Fishers pulled nets near shore at night and went ashore at daylight
Fish were separated and taken to market early in the morning
Fishers mended their nets and cleaned them by casting them into the shallow water
Fish nets would have various debris and tears after a night of dragging
Nets had to be washed and stretched out to dry or they would rot and break

What was Jesus' creative solution?
Luke 5:3

Simon is Greek for hearing. Had this boat owner heard of this Jesus before?
John 1:40-42
Peter is Greek for rock. Why did Jesus call Simon a rock?
Matthew 16:15-18
What did Simon Peter experience soon after meeting Jesus that began to build his faith?
John 2:1-2, 7-11

Did Simon become a full-time follower of Jesus from the moment he met Jesus?
Matthew 4:18
How did Jesus nudge Simon's faith and make sure he was hearing the faith-building gospel?
Luke 5:3
After Simon heard this gospel message, how did Jesus further push his growing faith?
Luke 5:4

How did Simon react to this crazy idea from a rabbi/carpenter who knew nothing about fishing?
Luke 5:5
Was this experienced fisherman foolish to go along with this ignorant suggestion?
Luke 5:6
Were any other prospective disciples able to witness this amazing miracle?
Luke 5:7

Have we been given a crazy-sounding command like Simon's command to go out?
Luke 10:2-3
This sounds scary. How can we accept such a difficult calling?
John 14:16, 27
How are we to respond to this call to go out?
Isaiah 6:8

What results can we expect as we accept Jesus' call and go out as fishers for Him?
Acts 2:46-47
Are we to assume our faith is lacking if the people we witness to don't become Christians?
1 Corinthians 3:6-9
What does the help Simon got from his partners tell us about our activities as Jesus' fishers?
Matthew 18:19-20

How did Peter respond to this miracle that only a professional fisherman could fully understand?
Luke 5:8
Why did he react so severely?
Luke 5:9
What did his partners who had come with the second boat think about what had happened?
Luke 5:10a

What other leaders of God's people felt unworthy and undeserving to be called by God?
Exodus 3:4-6, 11
Judges 6:14-15
Jeremiah 1:4-6
What other leader expressed unworthiness because of his sinfulness?
Isaiah 6:5

Are we worthy of our calling?
Luke 17:10
Who, then, is worthy?
Revelation 5:2-5
So how can we then be worthy of the callings God has given us?
Romans 5:8, 11

What risky statement did Simon make when he confessed his unworthiness?
Luke 5:8
How was this so risky?
Matthew 10:32-33
How did this play out in Jesus' statement to the Nazarenes that the Gentiles would be saved?
Acts 13:46-48

How did Jesus show He understood Simon's confession and was ready to call Him further?
Luke 5:10b
How did Simon, Andrew, James and John respond to this huge call to be full-time disciples?
Luke 5:11
Note: A fishing business with partners and employees would have been very lucrative
This business was a family business headed by fathers Jonas and Zebedee
The decision to leave everything would cost financially and personally