Luke 9:1-39 ▼

1 He summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases,

2 and he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal [the sick].

3 He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic.

4 Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.

5 And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.”

6 Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere.

7 Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, “John has been raised from the dead”;

8 others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”; still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.”

9 But Herod said, “John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see him.

10 When the apostles returned, they explained to him what they had done. He took them and withdrew in private to a town called Bethsaida.

11 The crowds, meanwhile, learned of this and followed him. He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and he healed those who needed to be cured.

12 As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve approached him and said, “Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.”

13 He said to them, “Give them some food yourselves.” They replied, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have, unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people.”

14 Now the men there numbered about five thousand. Then he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of [about] fifty.”

15 They did so and made them all sit down.

16 Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.

17 They all ate and were satisfied. And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets.

18 Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”

19 They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’”

20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Messiah of God.”

21 He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.

22 He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

23 Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

24 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

25 What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?

26 Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

27 Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

28 About eight days after he said this, he took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray.

29 While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.

30 And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,

31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.

32 Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.

33 As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying.

34 While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.

35 Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”

36 After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.

37 On the next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him.

38 There was a man in the crowd who cried out, “Teacher, I beg you, look at my son; he is my only child.

39 For a spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams and it convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it releases him only with difficulty, wearing him out.