Study Desk

Summoning His 12 disciples,^(a) He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every^[a] disease and sickness.^(b)

These are the names of the 12 apostles:^(c) First, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

Philip and Bartholomew;^[b] Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;^[c]

Simon the Zealot,^[d] and Judas Iscariot,^[e] who also betrayed Him.^(d)

Jesus sent out these 12 after giving them instructions: "Don't take the road leading to other nations, and don't enter any Samaritan^(e) town.

Instead, go to the lost sheep^(f) of the house of Israel.^(g)

As you go, announce this: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.'^(h)

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with skin diseases, drive out demons.⁽ⁱ⁾ You have received free of charge; give free of charge.

Don't take along gold, silver, or copper for your money-belts. ^(j)

Don't take a traveling bag for the road, or an extra shirt, sandals, or a walking stick, for the worker^(k) is worthy of his food.

"When you enter any town or village, find out who is worthy, and stay there until you leave.

Greet a household when you enter it,^(l)

and if the household is worthy, let your peace be on it. But if it is unworthy, let your peace return to you.^(m)

If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet⁽ⁿ⁾ when you leave that house or town.

I assure you: It will be more tolerable on the day of judgment^(o) for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town. ^(p)

"Look, I'm sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as harmless as doves.^(q)

Because people will hand you over to sanhedrins^[f] and flog you in their synagogues,^(r) beware of them.

You will even be brought before governors and kings because of Me, to bear witness to them and to the nations.^(s)

But when they hand you over, don't worry about how or what you should speak.^(t) For you will be given what to say at that hour,

because you are not speaking, but the Spirit^(u) of your Father is speaking through you. ^(v)

"Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will even rise up against their parents and have them put to death.^(w)

You will be hated by everyone because of My name.^(x) But the one who endures to the end will be delivered. ^[g](y)

When they persecute you in one town, escape to another.^(z) For I assure you: You will not have covered the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

A disciple^[h] is not above his teacher, or a slave above his master.^(aa)

It is enough for a disciple to become like his teacher and a slave like his master. If they called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,' how much more the members of his household! ^(ab)

"Therefore,^(ac) don't be afraid of them, since there is nothing covered that won't be uncovered and nothing hidden that won't be made known.^(ad)

What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper,^[i] proclaim on the housetops.^(ae)

Don't fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul;^(af) rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. ^(ag)

Aren't two sparrows sold for a penny?^[j] Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's^(ah) consent.^[k]

But even the hairs of your head have all been counted.^(ai)

So don't be afraid therefore; you are worth more than many sparrows. ^(aj)

"Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before My Father in heaven.^(ak)

But whoever denies Me before men,^(al) I will also deny him before My Father in heaven.

Don't assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.^(am)

For I came to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;

and a man's enemies will be the members of his household. ^(an)[l]

The person who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me;^(ao) the person who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

And whoever doesn't take up his cross and follow^[m] Me is not worthy of Me.

Anyone finding^[n] his life will lose it,^(ap) and anyone losing^[o] his life because of Me will find it. ^(aq)

"The one who welcomes you welcomes Me,^(ar) and the one who welcomes Me welcomes Him who sent Me.^(as)

Anyone who^[p] welcomes a prophet^(at) because he is a prophet^[q] will receive a prophet's reward. And anyone who^[r] welcomes a righteous person because he's righteous^[s] will receive a righteous person's reward.

And whoever gives^(au) just a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple ^[t](av) —I assure you: He will never lose his reward!"