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called His twelve disciples to Him, and He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness.
2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholemew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near’. 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9 Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your money belts, 10 nor bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the labourer deserves his food.
11 “Whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it, and stay there until you leave. 12 As you enter the household, greet it. 13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 15 I tell you the truth, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
16 “Look, I am sending you out like sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves. 17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to the councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18 You will be dragged before governors and kings because of Me, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. For it will be given to you in that same hour what you are to say; 20 because it will not be you who speaks, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. For I tell you the truth, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they malign those of his household!
26 “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather be afraid of him who can destroy both body and soul in Gehenna. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30 But even the very hairs of your head have all been counted! 31 So do not be afraid; for you are of more value than many sparrows.
32 “Therefore, whoever confesses Me before men, I will also confess before My Father in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before My Father in heaven.
34 “Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
36and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.
37 “Anyone who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and anyone who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, I tell you the truth, he will by no means lose his reward.”