[1] And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over
unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every
infirmity. [2] The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon,
who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zeb'edee, and
John his brother; [3] Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax
collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; [4] Simon the
Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. [5] These twelve Jesus
sent out, charging them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town
of the Samaritans, [6] but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of
Israel. [7] And preach as you go, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at
hand.' [8] Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.
You received without paying, give without pay. [9] Take no gold, nor
silver, nor copper in your belts, [10] no bag for your journey, nor two
tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the laborer deserves his food. [11]
And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it, and
stay with him until you depart. [12] As you enter the house, salute it.
[13] And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is
not worthy, let your peace return to you. [14] And if any one will not
receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as
you leave that house or town. [15] Truly, I say to you, it shall be more
tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomor'rah than
for that town. [16] "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of
wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. [17] Beware of men;
for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues,
[18] and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to
bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. [19] When they deliver you up,
do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you
are to say will be given to you in that hour; [20] for it is not you who
speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. [21] Brother
will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children
will rise against parents and have them put to death; [22] and you will be
hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be
saved. [23] When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for
truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of
Israel, before the Son of man comes. [24] "A disciple is not above his
teacher, nor a servant above his master; [25] it is enough for the disciple
to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have
called the master of the house Be-el'zebul, how much more will they malign
those of his household. [26] "So have no fear of them; for nothing is
covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. [27]
What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light; and what you hear
whispered, proclaim upon the housetops. [28] And do not fear those who kill
the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both
soul and body in hell. [29] Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not
one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's will. [30] But
even the hairs of your head are all numbered. [31] Fear not, therefore; you
are of more value than many sparrows. [32] So every one who acknowledges me
before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; [33]
but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is
in heaven. [34] "Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I
have not come to bring peace, but a sword. [35] For I have come to set a
man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a
daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; [36] and a man's foes will be
those of his own household. [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] and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not
worthy of me. [39] He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his
life for my sake will find it. [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 is a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward, and he who
receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a
righteous man's reward. [42] And whoever gives to one of these little ones
even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he
shall not lose his reward."
