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These twelve men Jesus despatched with the following instructions, "Do not go among the Gentiles, and do not enter a Samaritan town, rather make your way to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And preach as you go, tell men, 'The Reign of heaven is near.' read more.
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out daemons; give without paying, as you have got without paying; you are not to take gold or silver or coppers in your girdle, nor a wallet for the road, nor two shirts, nor sandals, nor stick ??the workman deserves his rations. Whatever town or village you go into, find out a deserving inhabitant and stay with him till you leave. When you enter the house, salute it; if the household is deserving, let your peace rest on it; but if the household is undeserving, let your peace return to you. Whoever will not receive you or listen to your message, leave that house or town and shake off the very dust from your feet. I tell you truly, on the day of judgment it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorra than for that town. I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be wise like serpents and guileless like doves. Beware of men, they will hand you over to sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be haled before governors and kings for my sake ??it will be a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. Now, when they bring you up for trial, do not trouble yourselves about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will come to you at the moment, for you are not the speakers, it is the Spirit of your Father that is speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, the father will betray his child, children will rise against their parents and put them to death, and you will be hated by all men on account of my name; but he will be saved who holds out to the very end. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; truly I tell you, you will not have covered the towns of Israel before the Son of man arrives. A scholar is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord; enough for the scholar to fare like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If men have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they miscall his servants! Fear them not: ??nothing is veiled that shall not be revealed, or hidden that shall not be known; what I tell you in the dark, you must utter in the open, what you hear in a whisper you must proclaim on the housetop. Have no fear of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul: rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground unless your Father wills it. The very hairs on your head are all numbered; fear not, then, you are worth far more than sparrows! Everyone who will acknowledge me before men, I will acknowledge him before my Father in heaven; and whoever will disown me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. Do not imagine I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace but a sword. I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; yes, a man's own household will be his enemies. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me: he who will not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives Him who sent me. He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet, will receive a prophet's reward; he who receives a good man because he is good, will receive a good man's reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, I tell you, he shall not lose his reward."
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out daemons; give without paying, as you have got without paying; you are not to take gold or silver or coppers in your girdle, nor a wallet for the road, nor two shirts, nor sandals, nor stick ??the workman deserves his rations. Whatever town or village you go into, find out a deserving inhabitant and stay with him till you leave. When you enter the house, salute it; if the household is deserving, let your peace rest on it; but if the household is undeserving, let your peace return to you. Whoever will not receive you or listen to your message, leave that house or town and shake off the very dust from your feet. I tell you truly, on the day of judgment it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorra than for that town. I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be wise like serpents and guileless like doves. Beware of men, they will hand you over to sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be haled before governors and kings for my sake ??it will be a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. Now, when they bring you up for trial, do not trouble yourselves about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will come to you at the moment, for you are not the speakers, it is the Spirit of your Father that is speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, the father will betray his child, children will rise against their parents and put them to death, and you will be hated by all men on account of my name; but he will be saved who holds out to the very end. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; truly I tell you, you will not have covered the towns of Israel before the Son of man arrives. A scholar is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord; enough for the scholar to fare like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If men have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they miscall his servants! Fear them not: ??nothing is veiled that shall not be revealed, or hidden that shall not be known; what I tell you in the dark, you must utter in the open, what you hear in a whisper you must proclaim on the housetop. Have no fear of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul: rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground unless your Father wills it. The very hairs on your head are all numbered; fear not, then, you are worth far more than sparrows! Everyone who will acknowledge me before men, I will acknowledge him before my Father in heaven; and whoever will disown me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. Do not imagine I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace but a sword. I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; yes, a man's own household will be his enemies. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me: he who will not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives Him who sent me. He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet, will receive a prophet's reward; he who receives a good man because he is good, will receive a good man's reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, I tell you, he shall not lose his reward."
And if any place will not receive you and the people will not listen to you, shake off the very dust under your feet when you leave, as a warning to them."
Verse Concepts
After that the Lord commissioned other seventy disciples, sending them in front of him two by two to every town and place that he intended to visit himself. He said to them, "The harvest is rich, but the labourers are few; so pray the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to gather his harvest. Go your way; I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. read more.
Carry no purse, no wallet, no sandals. Do not stop to salute anybody on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this household!' Then, if there is a soul there breathing peace, your peace will rest on him; otherwise it will come back to you. Stay at the same house, eating and drinking what the people provide (for the workman deserves his wages); you are not to shift from one house to another. Wherever you are received on entering any town, eat what is provided for you, heal those in the town who are ill, and tell them, 'The Reign of God is nearly on you.' But wherever you are not received on entering any town, go out into the streets of the town and cry, 'The very dust of your town that clings to us, we wipe off from our feet as a protest. But mark this, the Reign of God is near!' I tell you, on the great Day it will be more bearable for Sodom than for that town. Woe to you, Khorazin! woe to you, Bethsaida! Had the miracles performed in you been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have been sitting penitent in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, O Capharnahum! Exalted to heaven? No, you will sink to Hades! He who listens to you listens to me, he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."
Carry no purse, no wallet, no sandals. Do not stop to salute anybody on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this household!' Then, if there is a soul there breathing peace, your peace will rest on him; otherwise it will come back to you. Stay at the same house, eating and drinking what the people provide (for the workman deserves his wages); you are not to shift from one house to another. Wherever you are received on entering any town, eat what is provided for you, heal those in the town who are ill, and tell them, 'The Reign of God is nearly on you.' But wherever you are not received on entering any town, go out into the streets of the town and cry, 'The very dust of your town that clings to us, we wipe off from our feet as a protest. But mark this, the Reign of God is near!' I tell you, on the great Day it will be more bearable for Sodom than for that town. Woe to you, Khorazin! woe to you, Bethsaida! Had the miracles performed in you been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have been sitting penitent in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, O Capharnahum! Exalted to heaven? No, you will sink to Hades! He who listens to you listens to me, he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."
I transmit these instructions to you, Timotheus my son, in accordance with what the prophets said who first directed me to you; fight the good fight on these lines, keeping hold of faith and a good conscience. Certain individuals have scouted the good conscience and thus come to grief over their faith ??20 including Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have made over to Satan. That will teach them to stop their blasphemous ongoings!
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Never censure an older man harshly; appeal to him as a father. Treat younger men like brothers, older women like mothers, younger women like sisters ??with perfect propriety. Widows who really need it must be supported from the funds. read more.
(When a widow has children or grandchildren, they must learn that the first duty of religion is to their own household, and that they should make some return to those who have brought them up. In God's sight this is an acceptable thing.) The really forlorn widow has her hope fixed on God, night and day she is at her prayers and supplications; whereas the widow who plunges into dissipation is dead before ever she dies. So lay down the following rules, to prevent any reproach being incurred. Whoever does not provide for his own relatives and particularly for his own family, has repudiated the faith: he is worse than an infidel. No one under sixty is to be put on the church's list of widows; and she must have been only once married, she must have a reputation for good service, as a woman who has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, relieved distress, and interested herself in all good works. Refuse to put young widows on the list, for when their wanton desires alienate them from Christ, they want to marry and thus are guilty of breaking their first troth to Him. Besides, they become idle unconsciously by gadding about from one house to another ??and not merely idle but gossips and busybodies, repeating things they have no right to mention. So I prefer young widows to marry again, to bear children, to look after their households, and not to afford our opponents any chance of reviling us. As it is, some widows have already turned after Satan. ??16 Any believer, man or woman, who has widowed relatives, must give them relief; the church is not to be burdened with them; she has to relieve the widows who really need relief. Presbyters who are efficient presidents are to be considered worthy of ample remuneration, particularly those who have the task of preaching and teaching: Scripture says, You must not muzzle an ox when he is treading the grain, and A workman deserves his wages. Never let any charge be brought against a presbyter, unless it is certified by two or three witnesses. Those who are guilty of sin you must expose in public, to overawe the others. In the presence of God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels, I adjure you to be unprejudiced in carrying out these orders; be absolutely impartial. Never be in a hurry to ordain a presbyter; do not make yourself responsible for the sins of another man ??keep your own life pure.
(When a widow has children or grandchildren, they must learn that the first duty of religion is to their own household, and that they should make some return to those who have brought them up. In God's sight this is an acceptable thing.) The really forlorn widow has her hope fixed on God, night and day she is at her prayers and supplications; whereas the widow who plunges into dissipation is dead before ever she dies. So lay down the following rules, to prevent any reproach being incurred. Whoever does not provide for his own relatives and particularly for his own family, has repudiated the faith: he is worse than an infidel. No one under sixty is to be put on the church's list of widows; and she must have been only once married, she must have a reputation for good service, as a woman who has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, relieved distress, and interested herself in all good works. Refuse to put young widows on the list, for when their wanton desires alienate them from Christ, they want to marry and thus are guilty of breaking their first troth to Him. Besides, they become idle unconsciously by gadding about from one house to another ??and not merely idle but gossips and busybodies, repeating things they have no right to mention. So I prefer young widows to marry again, to bear children, to look after their households, and not to afford our opponents any chance of reviling us. As it is, some widows have already turned after Satan. ??16 Any believer, man or woman, who has widowed relatives, must give them relief; the church is not to be burdened with them; she has to relieve the widows who really need relief. Presbyters who are efficient presidents are to be considered worthy of ample remuneration, particularly those who have the task of preaching and teaching: Scripture says, You must not muzzle an ox when he is treading the grain, and A workman deserves his wages. Never let any charge be brought against a presbyter, unless it is certified by two or three witnesses. Those who are guilty of sin you must expose in public, to overawe the others. In the presence of God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels, I adjure you to be unprejudiced in carrying out these orders; be absolutely impartial. Never be in a hurry to ordain a presbyter; do not make yourself responsible for the sins of another man ??keep your own life pure.
Hence I would remind you to rekindle the divine gift which you received when my hands were laid upon you; for God has not given us a timid spirit but a spirit of power and love and discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify to our Lord, and do not be ashamed of a prisoner of the Lord like me; join me in bearing suffering for the gospel by the power of the God read more.
who has saved us and called us to a life of consecration ??not for anything we have done but because he chose to do it himself, by the grace which he gave us ages ago in Christ Jesus and has now revealed in the appearance of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who has put down death and brought life and immortality to light by the gospel. Of that gospel I have been appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, and this is why I am suffering. Still, I am not ashamed of it; I know whom I have trusted and I am certain he is able to keep what I have put into his hands till the great Day. Model yourself on the sound instruction you have had from me in the faith and love of Christ Jesus.
who has saved us and called us to a life of consecration ??not for anything we have done but because he chose to do it himself, by the grace which he gave us ages ago in Christ Jesus and has now revealed in the appearance of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who has put down death and brought life and immortality to light by the gospel. Of that gospel I have been appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, and this is why I am suffering. Still, I am not ashamed of it; I know whom I have trusted and I am certain he is able to keep what I have put into his hands till the great Day. Model yourself on the sound instruction you have had from me in the faith and love of Christ Jesus.
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who will judge the living and the dead, in the light of his appearance and his reign, I adjure you to preach the word; keep at it in season and out of season, refuting, checking, and exhorting men; never lose patience with them, and never give up your teaching, for the time will come when people will decline to be taught sound doctrine and will accumulate teachers to suit themselves and tickle their own fancies; read more.
they will give up listening to the Truth and turn to myths. Whatever happens, be self-possessed, flinch from no suffering, do your work as an evangelist, and discharge all your duties as a minister. The last drops of my own sacrifice are falling; my time to go has come. I have fought in the good fight; I have run my course; I have kept the faith. Now the crown of a good life awaits me, with which the Lord, that just Judge, will reward me on the great Day ??and not only me but all who have loved and longed for his appearance.
they will give up listening to the Truth and turn to myths. Whatever happens, be self-possessed, flinch from no suffering, do your work as an evangelist, and discharge all your duties as a minister. The last drops of my own sacrifice are falling; my time to go has come. I have fought in the good fight; I have run my course; I have kept the faith. Now the crown of a good life awaits me, with which the Lord, that just Judge, will reward me on the great Day ??and not only me but all who have loved and longed for his appearance.