1
|
And calling His twelve disciples to Him, Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits, so that they could drive them out and heal every disease and sickness. |
|
2
|
These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; |
|
3
|
Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; |
|
4
|
Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. |
|
5
|
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go onto the road of the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. |
|
6
|
Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. |
|
7
|
As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ |
|
8
|
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. |
|
9
|
Do not carry any gold or silver or copper in your belts. |
|
10
|
Take no bag for the road, or second tunic, or sandals, or staff; for the worker is worthy of his provisions. |
|
11
|
Whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy there and stay at his house until you move on. |
|
12
|
As you enter the home, greet its occupants. |
|
13
|
If the home is worthy, let your peace rest on it; but if it is not, let your peace return to you. |
|
14
|
And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. |
|
15
|
Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. |
|
16
|
Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. |
|
17
|
But beware of men; for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues. |
|
18
|
On My account, you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. |
|
19
|
But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say. |
|
20
|
For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. |
|
21
|
Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. |
|
22
|
You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. |
|
23
|
When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. |
|
24
|
A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. |
|
25
|
It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household! |
|
26
|
So do not be afraid of them. For there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known. |
|
27
|
What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops. |
|
28
|
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. |
|
29
|
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. |
|
30
|
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. |
|
31
|
So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. |
|
32
|
Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven. |
|
33
|
But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven. |
|
34
|
Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. |
|
35
|
For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. |
|
36
|
A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ |
|
37
|
Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; |
|
38
|
and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. |
|
39
|
Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. |
|
40
|
He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives the One who sent Me. |
|
41
|
Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. |
|
42
|
And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.” |
|