Matthew 10:5–23

⁵Jesus sent out these twelve after giving them instructions: “Don’t take the road that leads to the Gentiles, and don’t enter any Samaritan^x town. ⁶Instead, go to the lost sheep^y of the house of Israel.^{z 7}As you go, proclaim, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’^{aa 8}Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, drive out demons.^ab Freely you received, freely give. ⁹Don’t acquire gold, silver, or copper for your money-belts.^{ac 10}Don’t take a traveling bag for the road, or an extra shirt, sandals, or a staff, for the worker^ad is worthy of his food. ¹¹When you enter any town or village, find out who is worthy, and stay there until you leave. ¹²Greet a household when you enter it,^{ae 13}and if the household is worthy, let your peace be on it; but if it is unworthy, let your peace return to you.^{af 14}If anyone does not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet^ag when you leave that house or town. ¹⁵Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment^ah for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.^ai

PERSECUTIONS PREDICTED

¹⁶“Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.^{a 17}Beware of them, because they will hand you over to local courts^B and flog you in their synagogues.^{b 18}You will even be brought before governors and kings because of me, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles.^{c 19}But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you are to speak.^d For you will be given what to say at that hour, ²⁰because it isn’t you speaking, but the Spirit^e of your Father is speaking through you.^f

²¹“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.^{g 22}You will be hated by everyone because of my name.^h But the one who endures to the end will be saved.^{i 23}When they persecute you in one town, flee to another.^j For truly I tell you, you will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.