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¹ After this he assembled the twelve apostles, and gave them authority over all sorts of demons, and the power of curing all diseases: ² then sent them to proclaim the reign of the Messiah, and to heal the sick. ³ and he said to them make no provision for your journey: take neither staff, nor sack, nor bread, nor money; and but one coat for each. ⁴ when you are lodg'd in any house, there stay, till you leave the place. ⁵ if any refuse to entertain you, when you leave that city, shake off the dust from your feet, as a sign of their being abandon'd. ⁶ accordingly they departed, and travell'd thro' the towns, preaching the gospel, and performing cures every where. ⁷ Now Herod the tetrarch was inform'd of all his transactions: and was perplex'd at the relation of some, that John was risen from the dead: whilst others said, Elias appear'd: ⁸ and others, that one of the old prophets was come to life again. ⁹ but Herod said, John was beheaded by my order, who then can this be, who, they say, performs such strange things? and he desired to have a sight of Jesus.

¹⁰ The Apostles, upon their return to Jesus, acquainted him with what they had done. and taking them with him, he retired into a desart place over-against the city of Bethsaida: ¹¹ where the people, who were inform'd of it, followed him: which he did not discountenance, but explained to them the reign of the Messiah, and relieved those, who wanted to be cured. ¹² As the day began to decline, the twelve came to him, and said, dismiss the multitude, that they may go to the nearest towns and villages for lodging and provisions: for here we are in a desart place. ¹³ and he said to them, do you yourselves give them something to eat. they replied, we can furnish only five loaves and two fishes, unless we go and buy provisions for all this people: ¹⁴ for they were about five thousand. but Jesus said to his disciples, make them sit down by fifties in a company. ¹⁵ accordingly they ranged them, and made them all sit down. ¹⁶ then he took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he ask'd blessing: then divided them, and gave them to his disciples to be distributed among the people: ¹⁷ and tho' they all eat sufficiently, there was a surplusage of twelve baskets full of fragments carried away.

¹⁸ One day having retired alone to prayer, he came to his disciples, and ask'd them, saying, whom do the people judge me to be? ¹⁹ they answered, some say you are John the Baptist: others, Elias: and others, that you are one of the old prophets appearing again. ²⁰ but who, said he, do you think I am? Peter answered, you are the Messiah of God. ²¹ however, Jesus strictly charged them not to say so much to any body; adding, ²² the son of man must suffer many indignities: be rejected by the rulers, the chief priests, and Scribes: be put to death: and the third day be raised again. ²³ Then he said to the whole company, if any one will be my follower, let him renounce himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. ²⁴ for whoever would save his life, shall lose it: and he that would lose his life, out of love to me, shall save it. ²⁵ what advantage is it for a man to have gain'd the whole world, if he himself runs into utter loss and ruin? ²⁶ for whoever shall be ashamed of me, and of my doctrine, of him shall the son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in the glory of his father, and of the holy angels. ²⁷ I declare unto you, there are some here present, who shall not die, till they see the Messiah reign.

²⁸ About eight days after this discourse, he took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up a mountain to pray. ²⁹ as he was praying, the appearance of his countenance was quite chang'd, and his raiment was of a splendid white: ³⁰ two persons of a glorious form were seen talking with him; they were Moses, and Elias, ³¹ who discours'd about the exit, he was to make at Jerusalem; ³² while Peter, and the others with him, were overwhelm'd with sleep: but when they wak'd, they observed his glory, and the two persons present with him, ³³ who were just departing from him, when Peter said to Jesus, master, it is best for us to stay here: let us build three apartments, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing well what he said. ³⁴ while he was speaking, there came a cloud and over-shadowed them, who were seized with fear, at their vanishing in the cloud, ³⁵ from whence a voice issued out, saying, "this is my beloved son, obey him." ³⁶ and before the sound was gone, Jesus was left alone: this they kept secret, and for some time did not acquaint any one in the least with what they had seen.

³⁷ The next day, when they were come down from the mountain, a multitude of people happen'd to meet him: ³⁸ when one of the company cry'd out, master, I beseech you, cast your eyes upon my son, for he is my only child: ³⁹ he is frequently seized by a spirit, which makes him immediately roar, then throws him into convulsions with foaming, and never leaves him, but with difficulty and bruises. ⁴⁰ I desired your disciples to cast out this spirit; but they were not able. ⁴¹ then said Jesus, O incredulous, and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? bring hither your son. ⁴² as the child was advancing, the demon threw him down, into convulsions: but Jesus rebuked the impure spirit, cured the child, and delivered him to his father.

⁴³ and all the people were astonished at such an instance of divine power: and as they were admiring whatever Jesus did, he said to his disciples, ⁴⁴ give attention to what I now say, namely, that the son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men. ⁴⁵ but they did not comprehend that expression: it was as a riddle, which they could not understand, and they were afraid to desire him to explain the meaning of that expression. ⁴⁶ At length they enter'd into a debate, which of them should be the greatest. ⁴⁷ but Jesus perceiving what they thought, took a child and set him before him: then said to them, ⁴⁸ whoever receives such a child in my name, receives me: and he that receives me, receives him that sent me. for he that is least among you all, he shall be greatest. ⁴⁹ Then said John to Jesus, master, we saw one casting out demons in your name, and we oppos'd it, because he does not follow you with us. ⁵⁰ but Jesus said to him, don't oppose it: for he that is not against us, is for us.

⁵¹ Now the time of his assumption drawing nigh, he was fix'd in his resolution to go to Jerusalem: ⁵² and he sent messengers before, who went to a town of the Samaritans, to prepare a lodging for him. ⁵³ but they would not entertain him, because he appear'd to them, as if he was going to Jerusalem. ⁵⁴ his disciples James and John observing this, said, Lord, shall we command fire to descend from heaven, as Elias did, in order to consume them? ⁵⁵ but Jesus turn'd, and rebuked them, saying, you don't know by what spirit you are moved. ⁵⁶ for the son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. and they went to another village.

⁵⁷ At another time, as they were walking in the road, a man said to him, I will be your follower, wherever you go. ⁵⁸ Jesus answered him, foxes have their kennels, and birds of the air their nests, but the son of man hath not where to lay his head. ⁵⁹ Then he said to another, follow me: but he replied, Lord, let me stay first, till I bury my father. ⁶⁰ Jesus said to him, let the dead bury their dead; but do you go and preach the kingdom of God. ⁶¹ another likewise said, I will be your follower; but let me first go home, and settle the affairs of my family. ⁶² Jesus answered him, whoever puts his hand to the plough, and looks back, is not fit to be employ'd in the kingdom of God.