Miraculous catch of fish

According to the Gospel of Luke,[2] on the day of this miracle, Jesus was preaching near the Lake of Genesareth (Sea of Galilee), when he saw two boats at the water's edge.

When Peter saw the large catch, which filled both boats almost to sinking point, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!

[6]When they reply in the negative (the question in Greek uses a particle which expects the answer "No"),[11][12] Jesus responds: "Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find".

"[6] at which Peter jumped into the water to meet him (an aspect of the story often illustrated in Christian art), while the remaining disciples followed in the boat, towing the net, which proved to be full of 153 large fish.

For instance, Augustine of Hippo argued that the significance lay in the fact that 153 is the sum of the first 17 integers (i.e. 153 is the 17th triangular number), with 17 representing the combination of divine grace (the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit) and law (the Ten Commandments).

[15][16] Cornelius a Lapide summarized the views of others in his commentary, including the following: Jerome wrote "Those who have written about animated nature say that there are a hundred and fifty-three kinds of fish.

The Catholic German theologian Friedrich Justus Knecht (d. 1921) wrote that, The object of this miracle which Jesus worked solely for Peter and the other disciples was twofold: 1.

He steers the bark, and with the help of his companions (the Apostles, and after them the Bishops), casts his net by preaching the doctrine of Christ, and by holy Baptism receives into the Church those who will believe.