The Twelve Apostles are Instructed

Mark 6:8–13; Luke 9:2–6, 12:2–10

5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: e“Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of fthe Samaritans. 6 gBut go rather to the hlost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 iAnd as you go, preach, saying, j‘The kingdom of heaven 3is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, 4cleanse the lepers, 5raise the dead, cast out demons. kFreely you have received, freely give. 9 lProvide neither gold nor silver nor mcopper in your money belts, 10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; nfor a worker is worthy of his food.

11 o“Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. 12 And when you go into a household, greet it. 13 pIf the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. qBut if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 rAnd whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, sshake off the dust from your feet. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, tit will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!

16 u“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. vTherefore be wise as serpents and wharmless 6as doves. 17 But beware of men, for xthey will deliver you up to councils and yscourge you in their synagogues. 18 zYou will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 aBut when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For bit will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 cfor it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

21 d“Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22 And eyou will be hated by all for My name’s sake. fBut he who endures to the end will be saved. 23 gWhen they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have hgone through the cities of Israel ibefore the Son of Man comes.

24 j“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If kthey have called the master of the house 7Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! 26 Therefore do not fear them. lFor there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.

27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, mspeak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28 nAnd do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather ofear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in 8hell. 29 Are not two psparrows sold for a 9copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 qBut the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

32 r“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, shim I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 tBut whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

34 u“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to v‘set 1a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and w‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 xHe who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 yAnd he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 zHe who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

40 a“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 bHe who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 cAnd whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”