Chapter 9

Ministry of the Twelve

1 aAnd He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases.

2 And He sent them out to aproclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing.

3 And He said to them, “aTake nothing for your journey, bneither a staff, nor a 1bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have 2two tunics apiece.

4 “Whatever house you enter, stay there 1until you leave that city.

5 “And as for those who do not receive you, as you go out from that city, ashake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”

6 Departing, they began going 1throughout the villages, apreaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

7 aNow bHerod the tetrarch heard of all that was happening; and he was greatly perplexed, because it was said by some that cJohn had risen from the dead,

8 and by some that aElijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen again.

9 Herod said, “I myself had John beheaded; but who is this man about whom I hear such things?” And ahe kept trying to see Him.

10 aWhen the apostles returned, they gave an account to Him of all that they had done. bTaking them with Him, He withdrew by Himself to a city called cBethsaida.

11 But the crowds were aware of this and followed Him; and welcoming them, He began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing.

Five Thousand Fed

12 Now the day 1was ending, and the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the crowd away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging and get 2something to eat; for here we are in a desolate place.”

13 But He said to them, “You give them something to eat!” And they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless perhaps we go and buy food for all these people.”

14 (For there were about five thousand men.) And He said to His disciples, “Have them 1sit down to eat ain groups of about fifty each.”

15 They did so, and had them all 1sit down.

16 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and broke them, and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the 1people.

17 And they all ate and were satisfied; and 1the broken pieces which they had left over were picked up, twelve abaskets full.

18 aAnd it happened that while He was bpraying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, “Who do the 1people say that I am?”

19 They answered and said, “John the Baptist, and others say Elijah; but others, that one of the prophets of old has risen again.”

20 And He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered and said, “aThe 1Christ of God.”

21 But He 1awarned them and instructed them not to tell this to anyone,

22 asaying, “bThe Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day.”

23 And He was saying to them all, “aIf anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

24 “For awhoever wishes to save his 1life will lose it, but whoever loses his 1life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.

25 “For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and aloses or forfeits himself?

26 “aFor whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

27 “But I say to you truthfully, athere are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

The Transfiguration

28 aSome eight days after these sayings, He took along bPeter and John and James, and cwent up on the mountain dto pray.

29 And while He was apraying, the appearance of His face bbecame different, and His clothing became white and 1gleaming.

30 And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah,

31 who, appearing in 1glory, were speaking of His adeparture which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

32 Now Peter and his companions ahad been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him.

33 And as 1these were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, “aMaster, it is good for us to be here; blet us make three 2tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—cnot realizing what he was saying.

34 While he was saying this, a cloud 1formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.

35 Then aa voice came out of the cloud, saying, “bThis is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!”

36 And when the voice 1had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And athey kept silent, and reported to no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.

37 aOn the next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Him.

38 And a man from the crowd shouted, saying, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, for he is my 1only boy,

39 and a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly screams, and it throws him into a convulsion with foaming at the mouth; and only with difficulty does it leave him, mauling him as it leaves.

40 “I begged Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not.”

41 And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”

42 While he was still approaching, the demon 1slammed him to the ground and threw him into a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy and gave him back to his father.

43 And they were all amazed at the 1agreatness of God.

bBut while everyone was marveling at all that He was doing, He said to His disciples,

44 “Let these words sink into your ears; afor the Son of Man is going to be 1delivered into the hands of men.”

45 But athey 1did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they would not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this statement.

The Test of Greatness

46 aAn argument 1started among them as to which of them might be the greatest.

47 But Jesus, aknowing 1what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side,

48 and said to them, “aWhoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; bfor the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.”

49 aJohn answered and said, “bMaster, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us.”

50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not hinder him; afor he who is not against you is 1for you.”

51 When the days were approaching for aHis 1ascension, He 2was determined bto go to Jerusalem;

52 and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the aSamaritans to 1make arrangements for Him.

53 But they did not receive Him, abecause 1He was traveling toward Jerusalem.

54 When His disciples aJames and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to bcommand fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”

55 But He turned and rebuked them, [1and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of;

56 for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”] And they went on to another village.

Exacting Discipleship

57 aAs they were going along the road, bsomeone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.”

58 And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the 1air have 2nests, but athe Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

59 And He said to another, “aFollow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.”

60 But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and aproclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.”

61 Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but afirst permit me to say good-bye to those at home.”

62 But Jesus said to him, “aNo one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”