The Twelve Disciples; Instructions for Service

1Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.

2Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew; and [a]James the son of Zebedee, and his brother [b]John; 3Philip and [c]Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; [d]James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the [e]Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who also betrayed Him.

5These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them, saying, “Do not go on a road [f]to Gentiles, and do not enter a city of Samaritans; 6but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7And as you go, [g]preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven [h]has come near.’ 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. 9Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, 10or a [i]bag for your journey, or even two [j]tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is deserving of his [k]support. 11And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay [l]at his house until you leave that city. 12As you enter the [m]house, give it your [n]greeting. 13If the house is worthy, see that your blessing of peace comes upon it. But if it is not worthy, [o]take back your blessing of peace. 14And whoever does not receive you nor listen to your words, as you leave that house or city, shake the dust off your feet. 15Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment, than for that city.

A Hard Road Ahead of Them

16“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves. 17But be on guard against people, for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues; 18and you will even be brought before governors and kings on My account, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given you in that hour. 20For it is not you who are speaking, but it is the Spirit of your Father who is speaking [p]in you.

21“Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and [q]cause them to be put to death. 22And you will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

23“But whenever they persecute you in [r]one city, flee to the [s]next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.

The Meaning of Discipleship

24“A [t]disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. 25It is enough for the disciple that he may become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house [u]Beelzebul, how much more will they insult the members of his household!

26“So do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27What I tell you in the darkness, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim on the housetops. 28And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in [v]hell. 29Are two sparrows not sold for an [w]assarion? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30But even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31So do not fear; you are more valuable than a great number of sparrows.

32“Therefore, everyone who [x]confesses Me before people, I will also confess [y]him before My Father who is in heaven. 33But whoever denies Me before people, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

34“Do not think that I came to [z]bring peace on the earth; I did not come to [aa]bring peace, but a sword. 35For I came to TURN A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; 36and A PERSON’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.

37“The one who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and the one who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38And the one who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39The one who has found his [ab]life will lose it, and the one who has lost his [ac]life on My account will find it.

The Reward for Service

40“The one who [ad]receives you [ae]receives Me, and the one who [af]receives Me [ag]receives Him who sent Me. 41The one who [ah]receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and the one who [ai]receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person shall receive a righteous person’s reward. 42And whoever gives one of these [aj]little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

[a] 2 Or Jacob
[b] 2 Gr Joannes, for Heb Johanan
[c] 3 I.e., son of Talmai (Aram)
[d] 3 Or Jacob
[e] 4 Or Cananaean
[f] 5 Lit of
[g] 7 Or proclaim
[h] 7 Or is at hand
[i] 10 Or knapsack; or beggar’s bag
[j] 10 A long shirt worn next to the skin
[k] 10 Lit nourishment
[l] 11 Lit there until
[m] 12 Or household
[n] 12 I.e., the familiar Heb blessing, “Peace be to this house!”
[o] 13 Lit your peace is to return to you
[p] 20 Or by you
[q] 21 Lit put them to death
[r] 23 Lit this
[s] 23 Lit other
[t] 24 Or student
[u] 25 Two early mss Beezebul; meaning uncertain, perhaps lord prince, referring to Satan
[v] 28 Gr Gehenna
[w] 29 A Roman copper coin, worth about 116 of a laborer’s daily wage
[x] 32 Lit will confess in Me
[y] 32 Lit in him
[z] 34 Lit cast
[aa] 34 Lit cast
[ab] 39 Or soul
[ac] 39 Or soul
[ad] 40 Or welcomes
[ae] 40 Or welcomes
[af] 40 Or welcomes
[ag] 40 Or welcomes
[ah] 41 Or welcomes
[ai] 41 Or welcomes
[aj] 42 Possibly someone of low social standing