Now when he had called his twelve disciples to him, he gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and disease.
2 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 Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
5 Jesus sent forth these twelve, and commanded them, saying, "Do not go among the Gentiles, and do not enter into any city of the Samaritans.
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as you go, preach, saying: 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons; freely you have received, freely give.
9 Provide neither gold, nor silver nor brass in your purses,
10 Nor bag for your journey, neither two coats or shoes, nor staves; for the workman is worthy of his food.
11 And whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and stay there until you go from there.
12 When you come into the house, give your greeting.
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 Whoever will not receive you or hear your words, shake the dust off of your feet when you leave that house or that city.
15 Truthfully I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.
16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be as wise as serpents, and as harmless as doves.
17 But beware of men; for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will whip you in their synagogues.
18 And you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what you will speak; for it will be given to you in that same hour what you will speak.
20 For it is not you who speaks, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks through you.
21 Brother shall deliver up brother to death, and father the child; and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
22 And you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake; but he who endures to the end will be saved.
23 But when they persecute you in one city, flee into another. For truthfully I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel, before the Son of man comes.
24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
25 It is enough for the disciple that he is like his master, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they speak evil of those who are of his household?
26 Therefore, do not fear them; for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
27 What I tell you in darkness, speak that in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach that upon the housetops.
28 And do not fear those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.1
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground without your Father knowing.
30 The very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Fear not therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows.
32 Whoever therefore shall confess me before men, I will 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 earth. I did not came to bring peace, but a sword.
35 For I have come to set a man at variance against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 A man's foes shall be those of his own household.2
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 He who does not take his cross, and follow after me, is not worthy of me. [To follow Christ you must humbly get quiet to listen for his word within your heart, then you must wait to hear Him, then you must obey Him. Self-denial occurs by obeying the Lord's voice instead of your will, (His will, not your will); this is the cross.]
39 He who finds his life shall lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake shall find it.3 [When you continually deny yourself and obey the Lord's commands, you will eventually lose your selfish life, and thereby save your soul to live Life in union with God.]
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 Whoever, in the name of a disciple, shall give a drink to one of these little ones, even a cup of cold water, truthfully I say to you, he shall in no way lose his reward."
