1 And, having called to Him His twelve disciples, He gave them authority over unclean spirits, so as to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness. 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: 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 Alpaeus, and Thaddeus; 4 Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, having charged them, saying, "Go not into any way of the gentiles, and enter not into a city of the Samaritans; 6 but go ye rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And, while going, preach, saying, 'The Kingdom of Heaven has come nigh.' 8 Heal the sick; raise the dead; cleanse the lepers; cast oat demons; freely ye received, freely give. 9 Procure neither gold, nor silver, nor brass, for your girdles; 10 nor wallet for your journey, nor two coats, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the laborer is worthy of his food.
11 "And into whatsoever city or village ye enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and there abide till ye go forth. 12 And, as ye are coming into the house, salute it: 13 and, if, indeed, the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but, if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And, whosoever does not receive you, nor hear your words, as ye are going forth out of that house or city, shake off the dust, of your feet. 15 Verily 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.
16 "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; become ye, therefore, as wise as the serpents and as innocent as doves. 17 But beware of men; for they will deliver you up to high-councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you; 18 and before the governors and the kings shall ye be brought for My sake, for a testimony to them and to the gentiles. 19 And, when they deliver you up, be not anxious how or what ye shall speak; for it shall be given you in that hour what to speak; 20 for it is not ye that speak, but, the Spirit of your Father Who speaketh in you.
21 "And brother will deliver up brother to death; and father, his child; and children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22 And ye will be hated by all, for My name's sake; but he who endures to the end, the same shall be saved. 23 "And, when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next; for verily I say to you, ye will in no wise finish the cities of Israel, till the Son of Man come! 24 "A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his lord. 25 It is enough for the disciple, that he become as his teacher, and the servant as his lord. If they called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more those of his house-hold?
26 Fear them not, therefore; for nothing has been covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 27 What I am saying to you in the darkness, speak ye in the light; and what ye hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28 And be not afraid of 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. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head have all been numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; ye are of more value than many sparrows.
32 "Every one, therefore, who shall confess Me before men, him will I also confess before My Father Who is in Heaven. 33 But whosoever denies Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father Who is in Heaven. 34 "Think not that I came to send peace on the earth; I came not to send peace, but a sword; 35 for I came to set a man at variance with his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and the man's foes will be those of his own house-hold.
37 "He that loves father or mother more than Me, is not worthy of Me; and he that loves son or daughter more than Me, is not worthy of Me. 38 And whosoever does not take up his cross, and follow Me, is not worthy of Me. 39 "He that finds his life shall lose it; and he that loses his life for My sake shall find it.
40 "He that receives you receives Me; and he that receives Me receives Him Who sent Me. 41 He that receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 42 And whosoever shall give to drink a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple, verily I say to you, he shall in no wise lose his reward."