[1] He called to himself his twelve disciples, 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; and Lebbaeus, whose surname was
Thaddaeus; [4] Simon the Canaanite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed
him. [5] Jesus sent these twelve forth, and charged them, saying, "Don`t go
among the Gentiles, and don`t 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] Don`t
take any gold, nor silver, nor brass in your money belts. [10] Take no bag
for your journey, neither two coats, nor shoes, nor staff: for the laborer
is worthy of his food. [11] Into whatever city or village you enter, find
out who in it is worthy; and stay there until you go on. [12] As you enter
into the household, greet it. [13] If the household is worthy, let your
peace come on it, but if it isn`t worthy, let your peace return to you.
[14] Whoever doesn`t receive you, nor hear your words, as you go forth out
of that house or that city, shake off the dust from your feet. [15] Most
assuredly I tell you, It will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and
Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city. [16] Behold, I send
you forth as sheep in the midst of 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 scourge you. [18] Yes, and
you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony
to them and to the Gentiles. [19] But when they deliver you up, don`t be
anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given 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, the same will be saved. [23] But when
they persecute you in this city, flee into the next, for most assuredly 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 lord. [25] It is enough for the disciple that he be like
his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master
of the house Beelzebul, how much more them of his household! [26] Therefore
don`t 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] Don`t 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] "Aren`t two sparrows sold for an
assarion? 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
don`t be afraid, you are of more value than many sparrows. [32] Everyone
therefore who confesses me before men, him will I also confess before my
Father who is in heaven. [33] But whoever denies me before men, him will I
also deny before my Father who is in heaven. [34] "Don`t think that I came
to send peace on the earth. I didn`t come to send peace, but a sword. [35]
For I came to set a man at odds against his father, and the daughter
against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. [36]
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 isn`t worthy of me. [38] He who doesn`t take his
cross and follow after me, isn`t 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 in the name of a prophet will receive a
prophet`s reward: and he who receives a righteous man in the name of 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, in the name of a
disciple, most assuredly I tell you he will in no way lose his reward."
