Jesus sends out the Twelve

1Then He called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all the demons, ²³¹and to cure diseases;

2and He sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

3And He said to them: “Take nothing for the journey—neither staffs ²³²nor knapsack nor bread nor money, neither have two tunics apiece.

4Whatever house you enter, stay there, and depart from there.

5But as many as do not receive you, when you depart from that town, shake off even the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”

6So they set out and went around, village by village, evangelizing and healing everywhere.

Herod is troubled

7Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all the things being done by Him; and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead,

8and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the ancient prophets had arisen.

9But Herod said, “John I beheaded; so who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he started trying to see Him. ²³³

Jesus feeds about 5,000 men

10When the Apostles returned they reported to Him all that they had done. Then He took them and withdrew privately to a deserted place belonging to a town called Bethsaida. ²³⁴

11But the crowds, being aware, followed Him. So He received them and started speaking to them about the Kingdom of God, and He cured those who needed healing.

12Now when the day began to decline, the Twelve approached and said to Him, “Dismiss the crowd, so that they may go to the surrounding villages and their farms, lodge and find food; because we are in a deserted place here.”

13But He said to them, “You feed them!” ²³⁵So they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd”

14(there were about five thousand men). But He said to His disciples, “Make them recline in groups of fifty!”

15They did so, making them all recline.

16Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude.

17So they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of the pieces they left were taken up. ²³⁶

“You are the Christ!”

18Now it happened, as He was alone praying, that the disciples joined Him, and He questioned them, saying, “Who do the crowds say I am?”

19In answer they said, “John the Baptizer, but others say ‘Elijah,’ while others that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.”

20Then He said to them, “But you, who do you say that I am?” In answer Peter said, “The Christ ²³⁷of God!”

21But He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one,

22saying, “The Son of the Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.”

To gain is to lose, to lose is to gain

23Then He said to everyone: “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, ²³⁸and follow me.

24Because whoever desires to ‘save’ his life will waste it, but whoever ‘wastes’ his life for my sake, he will save it. ²³⁹

25Further, what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, yet wastes or forfeits his very self?

26Yes, whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of the Man will be ashamed of Him, whenever He comes in the glory—His, and the Father's, and of the holy angels. ²⁴⁰

27However, I tell you truly: there are some standing here who will certainly not taste death until they see the Kingdom of God!”

Peter, John and James see the ‘Kingdom’

28Now about eight days after these words, it happened that He took along Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.

29And as He prayed, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing dazzling white.

30And then, two men started talking with Him, who were Moses and Elijah;

31they appeared in glory and were explaining His ‘departure’, that He was about to bring to fruition in Jerusalem. ²⁴¹

32Now Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; but becoming fully awake, they saw His glory, and the two men who stood with Him.

33Then it happened: as they were parting from Him, Peter said to Jesus: “Master, it is good for us to be here” and “Should we make three shelters: one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah?” ²⁴²—not knowing what he was saying.

34But as he was saying this a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they became afraid as they entered the cloud.

35And a Voice ²⁴³came out of the cloud, saying: “This is my beloved ²⁴⁴Son. Listen to Him!”

36When the Voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. (They kept quiet and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.) ²⁴⁵

A violent demon

37Now it happened on the next day, when they came down from the mountain, ²⁴⁶that a large crowd met Him.

38And then, a man from the crowd called out, saying: “Teacher, I beg you, look upon my son, for he is my only begotten.

39And oh, a spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams, and it convulses him with foaming, and it hardly departs from him, destroying him!

40And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.”

41Then in answer Jesus said: “O unbelieving and perverse ²⁴⁷generation, how long shall I be with you and put up with you (pl)? Bring your (sg) son here!”

42But while he was still coming the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.

43Everyone was amazed at the majesty ²⁴⁸of God. Jesus foretells His death, again But while all were marveling at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples,

44“Let these words sink into your ears, because the Son of the Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.” ²⁴⁹

45But they did not understand this saying; indeed it was concealed from them, ²⁵⁰in order that they should not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

He who is least will be great

46Then an argument started among them as to which of them would be the greatest.

47So Jesus, perceiving the reasoning of their heart, took a little child and had him stand beside Him,

48and said to them: “Whoever receives this little child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me receives Him who sent me. Further, he who is least among all of you, he will be great.”

John changes the subject

49Then John reacted by saying, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.”

50So Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid, because he who is not against us is for us.” ²⁵¹

A Samaritan village

51Now it happened, as the days for His Ascension approached, ²⁵²that He set His face to go to Jerusalem,

52and He sent messengers ahead of Him. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, so as to prepare for Him.

53But they did not receive Him, because He was heading for Jerusalem.

54Well, when His disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven and consume them, just like Elijah did?” ²⁵³

55But He turned and rebuked them saying: “You do not know of what sort of spirit you are.

56Further, the Son of the Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save.” ²⁵⁴And they went to another village.

The cost of discipleship

57Now as they journeyed on the road, it happened that someone said to Him, “Lord, ²⁵⁵I will follow you wherever you go.”

58So Jesus said to him, “The foxes have dens and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of the Man has no place to lay His head.” ²⁵⁶

59Then He said to another, “Follow me!” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.”

60Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the Kingdom of God.” ²⁵⁷

61And another also said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first allow me to bid farewell to those who are at my house.” ²⁵⁸

62But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to ‘the plow’ and looks back is suitable for the Kingdom of God.” ²⁵⁹