Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

1. And Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.
2. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: the first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother.
3. Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus.
4. Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one also who betrayed Him.
5. These twelve Jesus sent out, commanding them, saying: “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and enter not into a city of the Samaritans.
6. But rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’
8. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
9. Acquire no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts,
10. Nor a bag for the journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for the worker is worthy of his food.
11. And into whatever city or village you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there until you go out.
12. And as you enter into the house, greet it.
13. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14. And whoever does not receive you, nor hear your words, go out of that house or city, and shake off the dust of your feet.
15. Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.

Persecution Will Come

16. Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
17. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you.
18. And you will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
19. But when they deliver you up, do not be anxious how or what you should speak; for it will be given you in that hour what you should speak.
20. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
21. And brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father the son; and children will rise up against parents and put them to death.
22. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
23. But when they persecute you in this city, flee to another. Truly I say to you, you will not finish all the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Do Not Fear

24. A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
25. It is enough for the disciple that he becomes like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household?
26. Therefore do not fear them; for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.
27. What I tell you in darkness, speak in light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.
28. And do not fear those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul; but rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
29. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground apart from your Father.
30. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
31. Therefore do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.
32. Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.
33. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.
34. Do not think that I have come to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
36. And a man’s enemies shall be those of his own household.
37. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
38. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
39. He who finds his life shall lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake shall find it.

Rewards for the Disciples

40. He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.
41. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.
42. And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.