1 J esus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.

And Jesus summoned to Him His twelve disciples and gave them power and authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out, and to cure all kinds of disease and all kinds of weakness and infirmity.

2 N ow the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

Now these are the names of the twelve apostles (special messengers): first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

3 P hilip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;

Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;

4 S imon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him.

Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

5 T hese twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans;

Jesus sent out these twelve, charging them, Go nowhere among the Gentiles and do not go into any town of the Samaritans;

6 b ut rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

7 A nd as you go, preach, saying, ‘ The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand!

8 H eal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.

Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely (without pay) you have received, freely (without charge) give.

9 D o not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts,

Take no gold nor silver nor copper money in your purses (belts);

10 o r a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support.

And do not take a provision bag or a wallet for a collection bag for your journey, nor two undergarments, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the workman deserves his support (his living, his food).

11 A nd whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city.

And into whatever town or village you go, inquire who in it is deserving, and stay there until you leave.

12 A s you enter the house, give it your greeting.

As you go into the house, give your greetings and wish it well.

13 I f the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace.

Then if indeed that house is deserving, let come upon it your peace '> freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin]. But if it is not deserving, let your peace return to you.

14 W hoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.

And whoever will not receive and accept and welcome you nor listen to your message, as you leave that house or town, shake the dust from your feet.

15 T ruly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city. A Hard Road before Them

Truly I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

16 “ Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.

Behold, I am sending you out like sheep in the midst of wolves; be wary and wise as serpents, and be innocent (harmless, guileless, and without falsity) as doves.

17 B ut beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues;

Be on guard against men '> way or nature is to act in opposition to God]; for they will deliver you up to councils and flog you in their synagogues,

18 a nd you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.

And you will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a witness to bear testimony before them and to the Gentiles (the nations).

19 B ut when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say.

But when they deliver you up, do not be anxious about how or what you are to speak; for what you are to say will be given you in that very hour and moment,

20 F or it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

For it is not you who are speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

21 “ Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.

Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child; and children will take a stand against their parents and will have them put to death.

22 Y ou will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake, but he who perseveres and endures to the end will be saved '> from spiritual disease and death in the world to come].

23 “ But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes. The Meaning of Discipleship

When they persecute you in one town, flee to another town; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

24 “ A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master.

A disciple is not above his teacher, nor is a servant or slave above his master.

25 I t is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household!

It is sufficient for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant or slave like his master. If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub '> master of the dwelling], how much more will they speak evil of those of His household.

26 “ Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.

So have no fear of them; for nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, or kept secret that will not become known.

27 W hat I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.

What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim upon the housetops.

28 D o not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather be afraid of Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Gehenna).

29 A re not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.

Are not two little sparrows sold for a penny? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s leave (consent) and notice.

30 B ut the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

31 S o do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

Fear not, then; you are of more value than many sparrows.

32 “ Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.

Therefore, everyone who acknowledges Me before men and confesses Me '> out of a state of oneness with Me], I will also acknowledge him before My Father Who is in heaven and confess him.

33 B ut whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

But whoever denies and disowns Me before men, I also will deny and disown him before My Father Who is in heaven.

34 “ Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

35 F or I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;

For I have come to part asunder a man from his father, and a daughter from her mother, and a newly married wife from her mother-in-law—

36 a nd a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.

And a man’s foes will be they of his own household.

37 “ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

He who loves '> takes more pleasure in] father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me;

38 A nd he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

And he who does not take up his cross and follow Me '> cleave steadfastly to Me, conforming wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also] is not worthy of Me.

39 H e who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it. The Reward of Service

Whoever finds his '> lower] life will lose it, and whoever loses his life on My account will find it.

40 “ He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.

He who receives and welcomes and accepts you receives and welcomes and accepts Me, and he who receives and welcomes and accepts Me receives and welcomes and accepts Him Who sent Me.

41 H e who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

He who receives and welcomes and accepts a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward, and he who receives and welcomes and accepts a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

42 A nd whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”

And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is My disciple, surely I declare to you, he shall not lose his reward.