Commissioning the Twelve

1Summoning his twelve disciples,a he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal everyA disease and sickness.B b 2These are the names of the twelve apostles:a First, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;A 4Simon the Zealot,A and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.a

5Jesus sent out these twelve after giving them instructions: “Don’t take the road that leads to the Gentiles, and don’t enter any Samaritana town. 6Instead, go to the lost sheepa of the house of Israel.b 7As you go, proclaim, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’a 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy,A drive out demons.a Freely you received, freely give. 9Don’t acquire gold, silver, or copper for your money-belts.a 10Don’t take a traveling bag for the road, or an extra shirt, sandals, or a staff, for the workera is worthy of his food. 11When you enter any town or village, find out who is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 12Greet a household when you enter it,a 13and if the household is worthy, let your peace be on it; but if it is unworthy, let your peace return to you.a 14If anyone does not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feeta when you leave that house or town. 15Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable on the day of judgmenta for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.b

Persecutions Predicted

16“Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.a 17Beware of them, because they will hand you over to local courtsA and flog you in their synagogues.a 18You will even be brought before governors and kings because of me, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles.a 19But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you are to speak.a For you will be given what to say at that hour, 20because it isn’t you speaking, but the Spirita of your Father is speaking through you.b

21“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.a 22You will be hated by everyone because of my name.a But the one who endures to the end will be saved.b 23When they persecute you in one town, flee to another.a For truly I tell you, you will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24A discipleA is not above his teacher, or a slave above his master.a 25It is enough for a disciple to become like his teacher and a slave like his master. If they called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more the members of his household!a

Fear God

26“Therefore,a don’t be afraid of them, since there is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered and nothing hidden that won’t be made known.b 27What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper,A proclaim on the housetops.a 28Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul;a rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.b 29Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny?A Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’sa consent.B 30But even the hairs of your head have all been counted.a 31So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.a

Acknowledging Christ

32“Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.a 33But whoever denies me before others,a I will also deny him before my Father in heaven. 34Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.a 35For I came to turn

a man against his father,

a daughter against her mother,

a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;

36and a man’s enemies will be

the members of his household.a b

37The one who loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me;a the one who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Anyone who finds his life will lose it,a and anyone who loses his life because of me will find it.b

A Cup of Cold Water

40“The one who welcomes you welcomes me,a and the one who welcomes me welcomes him who sent me.b 41Anyone who welcomes a propheta because he is a prophetA will receive a prophet’s reward. And anyone who welcomes a righteous person because he’s righteousB will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42And whoever givesa even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple,a b truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”