Luke 9
Twelve are Sent to Preach
1 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.3 And He said to them, Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece.4 Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.6 So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Him; and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead,8 and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again.9 Herod said, John I have beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear such things? So he sought to see Him.10 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing.
Five Thousand are Fed
12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.13 But He said to them, You give them something to eat.14 For there were about five thousand men.15 And they did so, and made 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, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude.17 So they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them.
Peters Confession of Faith
18 And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, Who do the crowds say that I am?19 So they answered and said, John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again.20 He said to them, But who do you say that I am? Peter answered and said, The Christ of God.21 And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one,22 saying, The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.
True Cost of Discipleship
23 Then He said to them all, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Fathers, and of the holy angels.
The Transfiguration
27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.28 Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.29 As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.30 And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah,31 who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.32 But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him.33 Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijahnot knowing what he said.34 While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud.35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!36 When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.
Demoniac Son is Healed
37 Now it happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a great multitude met Him.38 Suddenly a man from the multitude cried out, saying, Teacher, I implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child.39 And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth; and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him.40 So I implored Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.41 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.42 And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.
Christ Prophesies His Coming Death
43 And they were all amazed at the majesty of God.44 Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.
True Greatness
46 Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest.47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him,48 and said to them, Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.49 Now John answered and said, Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.50 But Jesus said to him, Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side.
Samaria Rejects Christ
51 Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,52 and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him.53 But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem.54 And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. 56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy mens lives but to save them. And they went to another village.
True Cost of Discipleship
57 Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.58 And Jesus said to him, Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.59 Then He said to another, Follow Me. But he said, Lord, let me first go and bury my father.60 Jesus said to him, Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.62 But Jesus said to him, No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking 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