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Commissioning the Twelve

¹ Summoning his twelve disciples,^(C1) he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every^(F1) disease and sickness.^{(F2)(C2) 2} These are the names of the twelve apostles:^(C1) 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;^{(F1) 4} Simon the Zealot,^(F1) and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.^(C1)

⁵ Jesus sent out these twelve after giving them instructions: “Don’t take the road that leads to the Gentiles, and don’t enter any Samaritan⁶ Instead, go to the lost sheep⁷ As you go, proclaim: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy,⁹ Don’t acquire gold, silver, or copper for your money-belts.¹⁰ Don’t take a traveling bag for the road, or an extra shirt, sandals, or a staff, for the worker¹¹ When you enter any town or village, find out who is worthy, and stay there until you leave.¹² Greet a household when you enter it,¹³ and if the household is worthy, let your peace be on it; but if it is unworthy, let your peace return to you.¹⁴ If anyone does not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet¹⁵ Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment

Persecutions Predicted

¹⁶ “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.¹⁷ Beware of them, because they will hand you over to local courts¹⁸ You will even be brought before governors and kings because of me, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles.¹⁹ But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you are to speak.²⁰ because it isn’t you speaking, but the Spirit

²¹ “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.²² You will be hated by everyone because of my name.²³ When they persecute you in one town, flee to another.²⁴ A disciple²⁵ It is enough for a disciple to become like his teacher and a slave like his master. If they called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more the members of his household!

Fear God

²⁶ “Therefore,²⁷ What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper,²⁸ Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul;²⁹ Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny?³⁰ But even the hairs of your head have all been counted.³¹ So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Acknowledging Christ

³² “Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.³³ But whoever denies me before others,³⁴ Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.³⁵ For I came to turn