The Twelve Apostles
1 Jesus called his twelve disciples to himself and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness. 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these:
The first, Simon, who is called Peter;
Andrew, his brother;
James the son of Zebedee;
John, his brother;
3 Philip;
Bartholomew;
Thomas;
Matthew the tax collector;
James the son of Alphaeus;
Lebbaeus, who was also called Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Canaanite; and
Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
Jesus Sends The Twelve
5 Jesus sent these twelve out and commanded them, saying, “Do not go among the Gentiles and do not enter into any city of the Samaritans. 6 Rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give.
9 Do not take any gold, silver, or brass in your money belts. 10 Take no bag for your journey, nor two coats, nor sandals, nor staff, for the laborer is worthy of his food.
11 In whatever city or village you enter, find out who within it is worthy and stay there until you go on. 12 As you enter into the household, greet them. 13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 Whoever does not receive you, nor hear your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. 15 Most certainly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.”
Persecution is Coming
16 “I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will flog you. 18 Yes, and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them and to the nations. 19 But when they deliver you up, do not be anxious about how or what you will say, for it will be given to you in that hour, what you will say. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
21 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. 22 You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved.
23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next, for most certainly I tell you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man has come.
24 A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household!”
Fearing God Alone
26 “Therefore do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light, and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops. 28 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 Gehenna.
29 Are two sparrows not sold for a penny? Not one of them falls on the ground apart from your Father’s will, 30 but the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Therefore do not be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.”
Confessing Christ
32 “Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven.”
The Sword of the Gospel
34 “Do not think that I came to send peace on the earth. I did not come to send peace, but a sword. 35 For 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. 36 A man’s adversaries will be those from his own household.”
Take up Your Cross
37 “He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 He who does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. 39 He who seeks his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.”
The Reward of Service
40 “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me. 41 He who receives a prophet because he speaks for God, will receive a prophet’s reward. He who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 Whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink because he is a disciple, most certainly I tell you he will in no way lose his reward.”