1And he 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.

2Now 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; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

5Jesus sent these twelve out, and commanded them, saying, "Do not go among the non-Jews, and do not enter into any city of the Samaritans. 6Rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7And as you go, proclaim, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. 9Do not take any gold, nor silver, nor copper in your money belts. 10Take no bag for your journey, neither two coats, nor shoes, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food. 11And into whatever city or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy; and stay there until you go on. 12And as you enter into the household, greet it. 13And if the household is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14And whoever does not receive you, nor hear your words, as you leave that house or that city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.

16"Look, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be cunning as snakes and innocent as doves. 17But beware of people: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you. 18Yes, and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations. 19But when they deliver you over, do not be anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given you in that hour what you will say. 20For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

21"And 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. 22And you will be hated by all for my name's sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved.

23But when they persecute you in one city, flee to the other. And if they persecute you in the other, flee to the next. For truly I tell you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

24"A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his lord. 25It 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.

26Therefore do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed; and hidden that will not be known. 27What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops. 28And do not 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 hell. 29"Are not two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls on the ground apart from your Father's will, 30but the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31Therefore do not be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.

32Everyone therefore who confesses me before people, him I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven. 33But whoever denies me before people, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.

34"Do not think that I came to send peace on the earth. I did not come to send peace, but a sword. 35For 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. 36And a person's foes will be those of his own household.

37Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And whoever does not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me. 39Whoever seeks his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

40Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. 41The one who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward. The one who receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. 42And whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink because he is a disciple, truly I tell you he will in no way lose his reward."