Matthew 10:5–23

The Twelve Disciples Sent Out

^5aThese twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them, saying, “Do not ¹go ²in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the ^bSamaritans;

⁶but rather go to ^athe lost sheep of the house of Israel.

⁷“And as you go, ¹preach, saying, ‘^aThe kingdom of heaven ²is at hand.’

⁸“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.

⁹“^aDo not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts,

¹⁰or a ¹bag for your journey, or even two ²tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for ^athe worker is worthy of his ³support.

¹¹“And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay there until you leave.

¹²“Now as you enter the ¹house, ^agive it your ²greeting.

¹³“And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.

¹⁴“And whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you leave that house or that city, ^ashake the dust off your feet.

¹⁵“Truly I say to you, ^ait will be more tolerable for the land of ^bSodom and Gomorrah in ^cthe day of judgment than for that city.

The Promise of Persecution

¹⁶“^aBehold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so ¹be ^bshrewd as serpents and ^cinnocent as doves.

¹⁷“But beware of men, for they will deliver you over to the ^acourts and flog you ^bin their synagogues;

¹⁸and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.

¹⁹“^aBut when they deliver you over, ^bdo not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given to you in that hour what you are to say.

²⁰“For ^ait is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

²¹“^aAnd brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and ^bchildren will rise up against parents and ¹cause them to be put to death.

²²“^aAnd you will be hated by all because of My name, but ^bit is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

²³“But whenever they ^apersecute you in this city, flee to ¹the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel ^buntil the Son of Man comes.