1And he called unto him his twelve disciples , and gave them authority over unclean spirits , to cast them out , and to heal all manner of disease and all manner of sickness . 2Now the names of the twelve apostles are these : The first , Simon , who is called Peter , and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee , and John his brother; 3Philip , and Bartholomew; Thomas , and Matthew the publican ; James the son of Alphæus, and Thaddæus; 4Simon the Cananæan, and Judas Iscariot , who also betrayed him . 5These twelve Jesus sent forth , and charged them , saying , Go not into any way of the Gentiles , and enter not into any city of the Samaritans : 6but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel . 7And as ye go , preach , saying , The kingdom of heaven is at hand . 8Heal the sick, raise the dead , cleanse the lepers , cast out demons : freely ye received , freely give . 9Get you no gold , nor silver, nor brass in your purses ; 10no wallet for your journey , neither two coats , nor shoes , nor staff : for the laborer is worthy of his food . 11And into whatsoever city or village ye shall enter , search out who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go forth . 12And as ye enter into the house , salute it . 13And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it : but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you . 14And whosoever shall not receive you , nor hear your words , as ye go forth out of that house or that city , shake off the dust of your feet . 15Verily I say unto you , It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment , than for that city .
Instructions for the Mission
16Behold , I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves : be ye therefore wise as serpents , and harmless as doves . 17But beware of men : for they will deliver you up to councils , and in their synagogues they will scourge you ; 18yea and before governors and kings shall ye be brought for my sake , for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles . 19But when they deliver you up , be not anxious how or what ye shall speak : for it shall be given you in that hour what ye shall speak . 20For it is not ye that speak , but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you . 21And brother shall deliver up brother to death , and the father his child : and children shall rise up against parents , and cause them to be put to death . 22And ye shall be hated of all men for my name ’s sake : but he that endureth to the end , the same shall be saved . 23But when they persecute you in this city , flee into the next : for verily I say unto you , Ye shall not have gone through the cities of Israel , till the Son of man be come .
Persecution and Suffering
24A disciple is not above his teacher , nor a servant above his lord . 25It is enough for the disciple that he be as his teacher , and the servant as his lord . If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more them of his household ! 26Fear them not therefore : for there is nothing covered , that shall not be revealed; and hid , that shall not be known . 27What I tell you in the darkness , speak ye in the light ; and what ye hear in the ear , proclaim upon the house-tops. 28And be not afraid of them that kill the body , but are not able to kill the soul : but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell . 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? and not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father : 30but the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31Fear not therefore : ye are of more value than many sparrows . 32Every one therefore who shall confess me before men , him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven . 33But whosoever shall deny me before men , him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven .
The Cost of Discipleship
34Think not that I came to send peace on the earth : I came not to send peace , but a sword . 35For I came to set a man at variance against his father , and the daughter against her mother , and the daughter in law against her mother in law: 36and a man’s foes shall be they of his own household . 37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me ; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me . 38And he that doth not take his cross and follow after me , is not worthy of me . 39He that findeth his life shall lose it ; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it .
Rewards for Disciples
40He that receiveth you receiveth me , and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me . 41He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet ’s reward : and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man ’s reward . 42And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only , in the name of a disciple , verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his reward .