The Twelve Apostles
(Mark 3:13–19; Luke 6:12–16)

1And he called to him his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, so that they might cast them out, and care every disease and every infirmity.

2Now these are the names of the twelve apostles: the first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, who was surnamed Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also delivered him up.

The Ministry of the Twelve
(Mark 6:7–13; Luke 9:1–6)

5These twelve Jesus sent forth after he had charged them, saying: Go not into the road that leads to the Gentiles, and enter not a city of the Samaritans. 6But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7And as you go, preach, saying: The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8Cure the sick, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9Provide for yourselves neither gold, nor silver, nor brass, to put into your purses, 10nor bag for your journey, nor two coats, nor sandals, nor staffs: for the laborer is worthy of his support. 11Whatever city or village you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and there make your home till you go away. 12When you go into a house, salute it: 13and if the house be worthy, your peace shall come upon it; but if it be not worthy, your peace shall return to you. 14And whoever will not receive you, nor hear your words, when you go out of that house or that city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15Verily I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah, in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Sheep among Wolves
(2 Timothy 1:3–12)

16Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be, therefore, wise as serpents, and guileless as doves. 17But beware of men: for they will deliver you to the councils, and scourge you in their synagogues; 18and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 19But when they deliver you up, be not anxious how or what you shall speak; for that which you shall speak shall be given you in that hour: 20for it is not you that speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father that speaks in you.

21Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father the child; and children will rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22And you will be hated by all men on my account: but he that endures to the end shall be saved.

23But when they persecute you in this city, flee into another: for verily I say to you, You will not have made the circuit of the cities of Israel before the Son of man shall come.

24The disciple is not above his teacher, nor the servant above his master. 25It is enough for the disciple, that he be as his teacher; and for the servant, that he be as his master. If they call the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household?

Fear God Alone
(Luke 12:4–7)

26Fear them not, therefore; for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, nor hidden that shall not be made known. 27"What I tell you in darkness, speak in the light: and what you hear in the ear, preach on the house-tops. 28And fear not them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. But rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a far thing? and yet not one of them shall fall upon the ground with out your Father. 30But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31Fear not, therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows.

Confessing Christ
(Luke 12:8–12)

32"Whoever, therefore, will confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven. 33But whoever will deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Not Peace but a Sword
(Micah 7:1–6; Luke 12:49–53)

34Think not that I have come to send peace on the earth. I have not come to send peace, but a sword. 35For I have come to set a man at variance with his father, and the daughter with her mother, and the daughter-in-law with her mother-in-law: 36and a man's enemies shall be those of his own household.

37He that 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 whoever does not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me. 39He that finds his life shall lose it; and he that loses his life for my sake, shall find it.

The Reward of Service

40He that receives you, receives me: and he that receives me, receives him that sent me. 41He that receives a prophet be cause he is a prophet, shall receive a prophet's reward: and he that receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man, shall receive a righteous man's reward. 42And whoever will give one of these little ones only a cup of cold water to drink, because he is a disciple, verily I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.