The Twelve Apostles

1And calling His twelve disciples to Him, Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits, so that they could drive them out and heal every disease and sickness.

2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;

3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;

4Simon the Zealot, ⁵⁹and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. ⁶⁰

The Ministry of the Twelve

5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go onto the road of the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.

6Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.

7As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’

8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, ⁶¹drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

9Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts.

10Take no bag for the road, or second tunic, or sandals, or staff; for the worker is worthy of his provisions.

11Whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy there and stay at his house ⁶²until you move on.

12As you enter the home, greet its occupants. ⁶³

13If the home is worthy, let your peace rest on it, but if it is not, let your peace return to you.

14And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.

15Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

Sheep among Wolves

16Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

17But beware of men, for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues.

18On My account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.

19But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say.

20For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

21Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.

22You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.

23When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

24A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.

25It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, ⁶⁴how much more the members of his household!

Fear God Alone

26So do not be afraid of them. For there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.

27What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops.

28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. ⁶⁵

29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? ⁶⁶Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.

30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

31So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Confessing Christ

32Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven.

33But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven.

Not Peace but a Sword

34Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

35For I have come to turn
‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

36A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ ⁶⁷

37Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me;

38and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.

39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

The Reward of Service

40He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives the One who sent Me.

41Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.

42And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”