Matthew 10

1 And having called together his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out and to cure every sickness and every infirmity.2 Now the names of the twelve Apostles are these: the First, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother,3 James of Zebedee, and John his brother, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector, and James of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus,4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.5 Jesus sent these twelve, instructing them, saying: “Do not travel by the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter into the city of the Samaritans,6 but instead go to the sheep who have fallen away from the house of Israel.7 And going forth, preach, saying: ‘For the kingdom of heaven has drawn near.’8 Cure the infirm, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You have received freely, so give freely.9 Do not choose to possess gold, nor silver, nor money in your belts,10 nor provisions for the journey, nor two tunics, nor shoes, nor a staff. For the laborer deserves his portion.11 Now, into whatever city or town you will enter, inquire as to who is worthy within it. And stay there until you depart.12 Then, when you enter into the house, greet it, saying, ‘Peace to this house.’13 And if, indeed, that house is worthy, your peace will rest upon it. But if it is not worthy, your peace will return to you.14 And whoever has neither received you, nor listened to your words, departing from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.15 Amen I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.16 Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be as prudent as serpents and as simple as doves.17 But beware of men. For they will hand you over to councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues.18 And you shall be led before both rulers and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.19 But when they hand you over, do not choose to think about how or what to speak. For what to speak shall be given to you in that hour.20 For it is not you who will be speaking, but the Spirit of your Father, who will speak in you.21 And brother will hand over brother to death, and father will hand over son. And children will rise up against parents and bring about their deaths.22 And you will be hated by all for the sake of my name. But whoever will have persevered, even to the end, the same shall be saved.23 Now when they persecute you in one city, flee into another. Amen I say to you, you will not have exhausted all the cities of Israel, before the Son of man returns.24 The disciple is not above the teacher, nor is the servant above his master.25 It is sufficient for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant, like his master. If they have called the Father of the family, ‘Beelzebub,’ how much more those of his household?26 Therefore, do not fear them. For nothing is covered that shall not be revealed, nor hidden that shall not be known.27 What I tell you in darkness, speak in the light. And what you hear whispered in the ear, preach above the rooftops.28 And do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. But instead fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell.29 Are not two sparrows sold for one small coin? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father.30 For even the hairs of your head have all been numbered.31 Therefore, do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.32 Therefore, everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father, who is in heaven.33 But whoever will have denied me before men, I also will deny before my Father, who is in heaven.34 Do not think that I came to send peace upon the earth. I came, not to send peace, but the sword.35 For I came to divide a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.36 And the enemies of a man will be those of his own household.37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever loves son or daughter above me is not worthy of me.38 And whoever does not take up his cross, and follow me is not worthy of me.39 Whoever finds his life, will lose it. And whoever will have lost his life because of me, shall find it.40 Whoever receives you, receives me. And whoever receives me, receives him who sent me.41 Whoever receives a prophet, in the name of a prophet, shall receive the reward of a prophet. And whoever receives the just in the name of the just shall receive the reward of the just.42 And whoever shall give, even to one of the least of these, a cup of cold water to drink, solely in the name of a disciple: Amen I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”

Matthew 10

Sending Out the Twelve Apostles

1 Jesust called his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spiritss so they could cast them out and heal every kind of disease and sickness.t2 Now these are the names of the twelve apostles:s first, Simons (called Peter), and Andrew his brother; James son of Zebedee and John his brother;3 Philip and Bartholomew;s Thomass and Matthew the tax collector;s James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;s

4 Simon the Zealott and Judas Iscariot,s who betrayed him.t
5 Jesus sent out these twelve, instructing them as follows:t “Do not go to Gentile regionst and do not enter any Samaritan town.t6 Got instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.7 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near!’8 Heal the sick, raise the dead,s cleanse lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.9 Do not take gold, silver, or copper in your belts,10 no bagt for the journey, or an extra tunic,t or sandals or staff,s for the worker deserves his provisions.11 Whenevert you enter a town or village,t find out who is worthy theret and stay with themts until you leave.12 As you enter the house, give it greetings.t13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.s14 And if anyone will not welcome you or listen to your message, shake the dust offs your feet as you leave that house or that town.

15 I tell you the truth,t it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom and Gomorrahs on the day of judgment than for that town!

Persecution of Disciples

16 “It am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves,s so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.17 Bewaret of people, because they will hand you over to councilss and flogt you in their synagogues.s18 And you will be brought before governors and kingss because of me, as a witness to them and the Gentiles.19 Whenevert they hand you over for trial, do not worry about how to speak or what to say,t for what you should say will be given to you at that time.t

20 For it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21 “Brothert will hand over brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise againstt parents and have them put to death.22 And you will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

23 Whenevert they persecute you in one place,t flee to another. I tell you the truth,t you will not finish going through all the townst of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
24 “A disciple is not greater than his teacher, nor a slavet greater than his master.

25 It is enough for the disciple to become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more will they defame the members of his household!

Fear God, Not Man

26 “Dot not be afraid of them, for nothing is hiddent that will not be revealed,s and nothing is secret that will not be made known.27 What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what is whispered in your ear,t proclaim from the housetops.t28 Dot not be afraid of those who kill the bodys but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.s29 Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny?s Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.t30 Even all the hairs on your head are numbered.

31 So do not be afraid;s you are more valuable than many sparrows.
32 “Whoever, then, acknowledgest me before people, I will acknowledgets before my Father in heaven.

33 But whoever denies me before people, I will deny him also before my Father in heaven.

Not Peace, but a Sword

34 “Do not think that I have come to bringt peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace but a sword.35 For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law,

36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.t
37 “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.38 And whoever does not take up his crosss and follow me is not worthy of me.

39 Whoever finds his lifet will lose it,s and whoever loses his life because of met will find it.

Rewards

40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.s41 Whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. Whoevert receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.

42 And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple, I tell you the truth,t he will never lose his reward.”