Matthew 10:16–31

Persecution Will Come

^16o“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be ^pwise as serpents and ^qinnocent as doves. ¹⁷Beware of men, for ^rthey will deliver you over to courts and flog you ^sin their synagogues, ^18rand you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, ^tto bear witness before them and the Gentiles. ^19rWhen ^uthey deliver you over, ^vdo not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for ^wwhat you are to say will be given to you in that hour. ^20xFor it is not you who speak, but ^ythe Spirit of your Father speaking through you. ^21zBrother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, ^22aand you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. ^bBut the one who endures to the end will be saved. ²³When they ^cpersecute you in one town, ^dflee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel ^ebefore the Son of Man comes.

^24f“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant⁶ above his master. ²⁵It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. ^gIf they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign⁷ those of his household.

Have No Fear

²⁶“So have no fear of them, ⁱfor nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. ²⁷What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on ^jthe housetops. ²⁸And ^kdo not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him ^lwho can destroy both soul and body in hell.^{8 29}Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?⁹ And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. ³⁰But ^meven the hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹Fear not, therefore; ⁿyou are of more value than many sparrows.