1 H e called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.

Jesus 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.

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

Now 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;

3 P hilip; Bartholomew; Thomas; Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus; Lebbaeus, who was also called Thaddaeus;

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

4 S imon the Canaanite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him.

5 J esus sent these twelve out, and commanded them, saying, “Don’t go among the Gentiles, and don’t enter into any city of the Samaritans.

These 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;

6 R ather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

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

7 A s 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, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give.

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

9 D on’t take any gold, silver, or brass in your money belts.

Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts,

10 T ake no bag for your journey, neither two coats, nor shoes, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food.

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

11 I nto whatever city or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy; and stay there until you go on.

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

12 A s you enter into the household, greet it.

As you enter the house, give it your greeting.

13 I f the household is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it isn’t worthy, let your peace return to you.

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

14 W hoever doesn’t receive you, nor hear your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake off the dust from your feet.

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

15 M ost certainly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.

Truly 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

16 “ Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

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

17 B ut beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you.

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

18 Y es, and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations.

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

19 B ut when they deliver you up, don’t be anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given you in that hour what you will say.

But 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.

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

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

21 “ Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.

“ 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.

22 Y ou will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved.

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

23 B ut when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next, for most certainly I tell you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel, until the Son of Man has come.

“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

24 “ A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord.

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

25 I t is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household!

It 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!

26 T herefore don’t be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed; and hidden that will not be known.

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

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

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

28 D on’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

Do 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.

29 “ Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls on the ground apart from your Father’s will,

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

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

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

31 T herefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.

So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

32 E veryone therefore who confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven.

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

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

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

34 “ Don’t think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn’t come to send peace, but a sword.

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

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

For 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;

36 A man’s foes will be those of his own household.

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

37 H e who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me.

“ 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.

38 H e who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me, isn’t worthy of me.

And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

39 H e who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.

He 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

40 H e who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.

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

41 H e who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. He who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.

He 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.

42 W hoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, most certainly I tell you he will in no way lose his reward.”

And 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.”