1 He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil1 10:1 Greek unclean spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. |
2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; |
3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; |
4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. |
5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. |
6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. |
7 As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' |
8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,2 10:8 The Greek word was used for various diseases affecting the skin--not necessarily leprosy. drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. |
9 Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; |
10 take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep. |
11 "Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. |
12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. |
13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. |
14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. |
15 I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. |
16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. |
17 "Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. |
18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. |
19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, |
20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. |
21 "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. |
22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. |
23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. |
24 "A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. |
25 It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub,3 10:25 Greek Beezeboul or Beelzeboul how much more the members of his household! |
26 "So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. |
27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. |
28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. |
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny4 10:29 Greek an assarion ? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. |
30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. |
31 So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. |
32 "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. |
33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. |
34 "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. |
35 For I have come to turn
" 'a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law--
|
36 a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'5 10:36 Micah 7:6 |
37 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; |
38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. |
39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. |
40 "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. |
41 Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. |
42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." |
