1And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them authority over unclean spirits, and power to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and diseases. 2Now these are the names of the twelve apostles: The first, Simon, 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, son of Alphaeus; and Lebbaeus, surnamed Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Canaanite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

5Jesus sent out those twelve with these instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles, or into any town of the Samaritans; 6But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7And as you go, preach this message, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand’. 8Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast (drive) out demons. Give as freely you have received. 9Take neither gold, silver, nor copper in your money belts, 10Nor a traveler’s bag, nor an extra coat (shirt) or sandals, or even a staff (walking stick); for the workman is worth his keep. 11And in whatever city or town you enter, look for someone in it who is worthy; and stay in their home until you leave that town. 12And when you enter a house, give it and its occupants your blessing. 13And if the house is deserving, let your peace rest upon it; but if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14And whoever does not welcome or listen to you, when you leave that house or city, shake the dust off your feet. 15Verily (truly) I tell you, ‘It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city’.

16“I am sending you out as sheep among wolves; so therefore, be as wise as serpents, and as harmless (innocent) as doves. 17But be on your guard; for men will hand you over to local councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18And you shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a witness against them and the Gentiles. 19But when they arrest you, take no thought about what to say, or how to say it; for it shall be given to you in that same hour what to say. 20For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father, Who speaks through you. 21Brother shall betray brother to death, and a father his child; and the children shall rebel against their parents, and have them put to death. 22And you shall be hated by all men for My name’s sake; but he that endures to the end shall be saved. 23But when they persecute you in one town, flee into another; for truly I say to you, you shall not have finished going over the towns of Israel, till the Son of man comes. 24The disciple (student) is not above his teacher, nor the servant above his master. 25It is enough for the disciple (student) that he be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master (head) of the house Beelzebub (head of the demons), how much more shall they call those of his household?

26“Do not be afraid of them; for there is nothing concealed that shall not be revealed; and hidden, that shall not be made known. 27What I tell you in darkness, speak it in the light; and what each of you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim that from the rooftops. 28And do not be afraid of them who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul; but rather, fear Him Who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are two sparrows not sold for a farthing (penny)? Yet not one of them shall fall to the ground outside of your Father’s care. 30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31So do not be afraid; for you are of more value than many sparrows. 32Therefore, whoever shall confess (acknowledge) Me before men, I will also confess (acknowledge) before My Father Who is in heaven. 33But whoever denies (disowns) Me before men (others), I will also deny him before My Father Who is in heaven.

34“Do not think (suppose) that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I came not to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I have come 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 man's enemies shall be members of his own household. 37Anyone who loves father or mother more than Me, is not worthy of Me; and he that loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38And anyone who does not take up his cross and follow after Me, is not worthy of Me. 39And whoever finds his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it.

40“Anyone who receives (welcomes) you receives Me, and he that receives Me receives Him that sent Me. 41Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous man as a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 42And if someone gives even a cup of cold water to any of these little ones, who is My follower, truly I tell you, he shall certainly not lose his reward.”