Luke 9

Commissioning the Twelve

1 Summoning the Twelve, He gave them power and authority over all the demons, and [power] to heal diseases.

2 Then He sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
3 "Take nothing for the road," He told them, "no walking stick, no traveling bag, no bread, no money; and don't take an extra shirt. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. 5 If they do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them."

6 So they went out and traveled from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing everywhere.

Herod's Desire to See Jesus

7 Herod the tetrarch heard about everything that was going on. He was perplexed, because some said that John had been raised from the dead, 8 some that Elijah had appeared, and others that one of the ancient prophets had risen.

9 "I beheaded John," Herod said, "but who is this I hear such things about?" And he wanted to see Him.

Feeding 5,000

10 When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus all that they had done. He took them along and withdrew privately to a town called Bethsaida.

11 When the crowds found out, they followed Him. He welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and cured those who needed healing.

12 Late in the day, the Twelve approached and said to Him, "Send the crowd away, so they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find food and lodging, because we are in a deserted place here."

13 "You give them something to eat," He told them.
"We have no more than five loaves and two fish," they said, "unless we go and buy food for all these people."

14 (For about 5,000 men were there.)
Then He told His disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about 50 each." 15 They did so, and had them all sit down. 16 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them. He kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd.

17 Everyone ate and was filled. Then they picked up 12 baskets of leftover pieces.

Peter's Confession of the Messiah

18 While He was praying in private and His disciples were with Him, He asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?"

19 They answered, "John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, that one of the ancient prophets has come back."

20 "But you," He asked them, "who do you say that I am?"
Peter answered, "God's Messiah!"

His Death and Resurrection Predicted

21 But He strictly warned and instructed them to tell this to no one,

22 saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day."

Take Up Your Cross

23 Then He said to [them] all, "If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will save it. 25 What is a man benefited if he gains the whole world, yet loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and that of the Father and the holy angels.

27 I tell you the truth: There are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God."

The Transfiguration

28 About eight days after these words, He took along Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 As He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became dazzling white. 30 Suddenly, two men were talking with Him-Moses and Elijah.

31 They appeared in glory and were speaking of His death, which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.
32 Peter and those with him were in a deep sleep, and when they became fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who were standing with Him.

33 As the two men were departing from Him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it's good for us to be here! Let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"-not knowing what he said.
34 While he was saying this, a cloud appeared and overshadowed them. They became afraid as they entered the cloud.

35 Then a voice came from the cloud, saying:
This is My Son, the Chosen One;
listen to Him!

36 After the voice had spoken, only Jesus was found. They kept silent, and in those days told no one what they had seen.

The Power of Faith over a Demon

37 The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Him. 38 Just then a man from the crowd cried out, "Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, because he's my only [child]. 39 Often a spirit seizes him; suddenly he shrieks, and it throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; wounding him, it hardly ever leaves him.

40 I begged Your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn't."

41 Jesus replied, "You unbelieving and rebellious generation! How long will I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here."
42 As the boy was still approaching, the demon knocked him down and threw him into severe convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, cured the boy, and gave him back to his father.

43 And they were all astonished at the greatness of God.
While everyone was amazed at all the things He was doing, He told His disciples,

The Second Prediction of His Death

44 "Let these words sink in: The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men."

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

Who Is the Greatest?

46 Then an argument started among them about who would be the greatest of them. 47 But Jesus, knowing the thoughts of their hearts, took a little child and had him stand next to Him.

48 He told them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in My name welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me welcomes Him who sent Me. For whoever is least among you-this one is great."

In His Name

49 John responded, "Master, we saw someone driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him because he does not follow us."

50 "Don't stop him," Jesus told him, "because whoever is not against you is for you."

The Journey to Jerusalem

51 When the days were coming to a close for Him to be taken up, He determined to journey to Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers ahead of Him, and on the way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make preparations for Him. 53 But they did not welcome Him, because He determined to journey to Jerusalem.

54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?"
55 But He turned and rebuked them,

56 and they went to another village.

Following Jesus

57 As they were traveling on the road someone said to Him, "I will follow You wherever You go!"
58 Jesus told him, "Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head."

59 Then He said to another, "Follow Me."
"Lord," he said, "first let me go bury my father."

60 But He told him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God."

61 Another also said, "I will follow You, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house."

62 But Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

Luke 9

The Sending of the Twelve Apostles

1 Aftert Jesust calledt the twelves together, he gave them power and authority over all demons and to cures diseases,2 and he sents them out to proclaimt the kingdom of Gods and to heal the sick.s3 Het said to them, “Take nothing for yourt journey – no staff,s no bag,t no bread, no money, and do not take an extra tunic.t4 Whatevert house you enter, stay theres until you leave the area.t5 Wherevert they do not receive you,t as you leave that town,t shake the dust offs your feet as a testimony against them.”

6 Thent they departed and went throughoutt the villages, proclaiming the good newsts and healing people everywhere.

Herod’s Confusion about Jesus

7 Now Herods the tetrarchs heard about everything that was happening, and he was thoroughly perplexed,t because some people were saying that Johns had been raised from the dead,8 while others were saying that Elijahs had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had risen.s

9 Herod said, “I had Johnt beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” So Herod wanted to learn about Jesus.t

The Feeding of the Five Thousand

10 Whent the apostles returned,t they told Jesust everything they had done. Thent he took them with him and they withdrew privately to a townst called Bethsaida.s11 But when the crowds found out, they followed him. Het welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God,s and cured those who needed healing.s12 Now the day began to draw to a close,t sot the twelve came and said to Jesus,t “Send the crowd away, so they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodgingt and food, because we are in an isolated place.”t13 But he said to them, “Yout give them something to eat.” Theyt replied,t “We have no more than five loaves and two fish – unlesst we got and buy foods for all these people.”14 (Now about five thousand ment were there.)s Thent he said to his disciples, “Havet them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”

15 So they did as Jesus directed,t and the peoplet all sat down.
16 Thent he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven he gave thankss and broke them. He gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.

17 They all ate and were satisfied, and what was left overs was picked up – twelve baskets of broken pieces.

Peter’s Confession

18 Oncet when Jesust was prayings by himself, and his disciples were nearby, he asked them,t “Who do the crowds say that I am?”s19 Theyt answered,t “John the Baptist; others say Elijah;s and still others that one of the prophets of long ago has risen.”s20 Thent he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Petert answered,t “The Christts of God.”21 But he forcefully commandedt them not to tell this to anyone,s

22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffers many things and be rejected by the elders,s chief priests, and experts in the law,t and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”s

A Call to Discipleship

23 Thent he said to them all,s “If anyone wants to become my follower,t he must denyt himself, take up his cross daily,s and follow me.24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it,s but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.25 For what does it benefit a persont if he gains the whole world but loses or forfeits himself?26 For whoever is ashameds of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that persont when he comes in his glory and in the gloryt of the Father and of the holy angels.

27 But I tell you most certainly,t there are some standing here who will nott experiencet death before they see the kingdom of God.”s

The Transfiguration

28 Nowt about eight dayst after these sayings, Jesust took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up the mountain to pray.29 Ast he was praying,t the appearance of his face was transformed,ts and his clothes became very bright, a brilliant white.t30 Thent two men, Moses and Elijah,s began talking with him.t31 They appeared in glorious splendor and spoke about his departuret that he was about to carry outt at Jerusalem.s32 Now Peter and those with him were quite sleepy,t but as they became fully awake,t they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.33 Thent as the ment were starting to leave,t Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters,ts one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah” – not knowing what he was saying.34 Ast he was saying this, a clouds camet and overshadowedt them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.35 Thent a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One.sts Listen to him!”s

36 Aftert the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. Sot they kept silent and told no ones at that timet anything of what they had seen.

Healing a Boy with an Unclean Spirit

37 Now ont the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a large crowd met him.38 Thent a man from the crowd cried out,t “Teacher, I beg you to look att my son – he is my only child!39 At spirit seizes him, and he suddenly screams;t it throws him into convulsionss and causes him to foam at the mouth. It hardly ever leaves him alone, torturingt him severely.40 It beggeds your disciples to cast it out, butt they could not do so.”t41 Jesus answered,t “Yout unbelievingts and perverse generation! How much longert must I be with you and enduret you?s Bring your son here.”42 Ast the boyt was approaching, the demon threw him to the grounds and shook him with convulsions.t But Jesus rebukedt the uncleans spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

43 Thent they were all astonished at the mighty powers of God.
But while the entire crowdt was amazed at everything Jesusst was doing, he said to his disciples,

Another Prediction of Jesus’ Suffering

44 “Take these words to heart,t for the Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.”t

45 But they did not understand this statement; its meaningt had been concealeds from them, so that they could not grasp it. Yett they were afraid to ask him about this statement.

Concerning the Greatest

46 Now an argument started among the disciplest as to which of them might bet the greatest.47 But when Jesus discerned their innermost thoughts,t he took a child, had him stand byt his side,

48 and said to them, “Whoever welcomest this childs in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me, for the one who is least among you all is the one who is great.”t

On the Right Side

49 John answered,t “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stops him because he is not a disciplet along with us.”

50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”

Rejection in Samaria

51 Now whent the days drew neart for him to be taken up,s Jesust set out resolutelyt to go to Jerusalem.s52 Het sent messengers on ahead of him.t As they went along,t they entered a Samaritan village to make things ready in advancet for him,53 but the villagerst refused to welcomet him, because he was determined to go to Jerusalem.ts54 Now when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call fire to come down from heaven and consumetthem?”ss55 But Jesust turned and rebuked them,ss

56 and they went on to another village.

Challenging Professed Followers

57 Ast they were walkingt along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”ss58 Jesus said to him, “Foxes have dens and the birds in the skyt have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”s59 Jesust said to another, “Follow me.” But he replied,t “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”60 But Jesust said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead,s but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”s61 Yett another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family.”t

62 Jesust said to him, “No one who puts hist hand to the plow and looks backs is fit for the kingdom of God.”s