Go, make followers

Luke 10 Later the Lord chose 72 other followers and sent them out two by two to every town and village where he was about to go. ²  He said to them:

A large crop is in the fields, but there are only a few workers. Ask the Lord in charge of the harvest to send out workers to bring it in. ³  Now go, but remember, I am sending you like lambs into a pack of wolves. ⁴  Don’t take along a moneybag or a traveling bag or sandals. And don’t waste time greeting people on the road. ⁵ As soon as you enter a home, say, “God bless this home with peace.” ⁶ If the people living there are peace-loving, your prayer for peace will bless them. But if they are not peace-loving, your prayer will return to you. ⁷ Stay with the same family, eating and drinking whatever they give you, because workers are worth what they earn. Don’t move around from house to house.

⁸ If the people of a town welcome you, eat whatever they offer. ⁹ Heal their sick and say, “God’s kingdom will soon be here!”

¹⁰  But if the people of a town refuse to welcome you, go out into the street and say, ¹¹ “We are shaking the dust from our feet as a warning to you. And you can be sure that God’s kingdom will soon be here!”

¹⁶  My followers, whoever listens to you is listening to me. Anyone who says “No” to you is saying “No” to me. And anyone who says “No” to me is really saying “No” to the one who sent me.

¹⁷ When the 72 followers returned, they were excited and said, “Lord, even the demons obeyed when we spoke in your name!”

¹⁸ Jesus told them:

I saw Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. ¹⁹  I have given you the power to trample on snakes and scorpions and to defeat the power of your enemy Satan. Nothing can harm you. ²⁰ But don’t be happy because evil spirits obey you. Be happy that your names are written in heaven!

Fishing for people

Luke 5 Jesus was standing on the shore of Lake Gennesaret, teaching the people as they crowded around him to hear God’s message. ² Near the shore he saw two boats left there by some fishermen who had gone to wash their nets. ³ Jesus got into the boat that belonged to Simon and asked him to row it out a little way from the shore. Then Jesus sat down in the boat to teach the crowd.

⁴ When Jesus had finished speaking, he told Simon, “Row the boat out into the deep water and let your nets down to catch some fish.”

⁵  “Master,” Simon answered, “we have worked hard all night long and have not caught a thing. But if you tell me to, I will let the nets down.” ⁶  They did this and caught so many fish that their nets began ripping apart. ⁷ Then they signaled for their partners in the other boat to come and help them. The men came, and together they filled the two boats so full that they both began to sink.

⁸ When Simon Peter saw this happen, he knelt down in front of Jesus and said, “Lord, don’t come near me! I am a sinner.” ⁹ Peter and everyone with him were completely surprised at all the fish they had caught. ¹⁰ His partners James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were surprised too.

Jesus told Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you will bring in people instead of fish.” ¹¹ The men pulled their boats up on the shore. Then they left everything and went with Jesus.