Jesus Sends Out the Twelve^(A)(B)

9 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons^(C) and to cure diseases,^{(D) 2} and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God^(E) and to heal the sick. ³ He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.^{(F) 4} Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. ⁵ If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”^{(G) 6} So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.

⁷ Now Herod^(H) the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed because some were saying that John^(I) had been raised from the dead,^{(J) 8} others that Elijah had appeared,^(K) and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life.^{(L) 9} But Herod said, “I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” And he tried to see him.^(M)

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand^(N)(O)

¹⁰ When the apostles^(P) returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida,^{(Q) 11} but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God,^(R) and healed those who needed healing.

¹² Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.”

¹³ He replied, “You give them something to eat.”

They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.” ¹⁴ (About five thousand men were there.)

But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” ¹⁵ The disciples did so, and everyone sat down. ¹⁶ Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them.^(S) Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. ¹⁷ They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah^(T)(U)

¹⁸ Once when Jesus was praying^(V) in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”

¹⁹ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist;^(W) others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”^(X)

²⁰ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”^(Y)

Jesus Predicts His Death

²¹ Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone.^{(Z) 22} And he said, “The Son of Man^(AA) must suffer many things^(AB) and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law,^(AC) and he must be killed^(AD) and on the third day^(AE) be raised to life.”^(AF)

²³ Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.^{(AG) 24} For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.^{(AH) 25} What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? ²⁶ Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them^(AI) when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.^(AJ)

²⁷ “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

The Transfiguration^(AK)

²⁸ About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James^(AL) with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.^{(AM) 29} As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. ³⁰ Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. ³¹ They spoke about his departure,^[a](AN) which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. ³² Peter and his companions were very sleepy,^(AO) but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. ³³ As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master,^(AP) it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

³⁴ While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. ³⁵ A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen;^(AQ) listen to him.”^{(AR) 36} When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.^(AS)

Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy^(AT)

³⁷ The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. ³⁸ A man in the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. ³⁹ A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. ⁴⁰ I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.”

⁴¹ “You unbelieving and perverse generation,”^(AU) Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”

⁴² Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the impure spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father. ⁴³ And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.

Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time

While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, ⁴⁴ “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.”^{(AV) 45} But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it,^(AW) and they were afraid to ask him about it.

⁴⁶ An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.^{(AX) 47} Jesus, knowing their thoughts,^(AY) took a little child and had him stand beside him. ⁴⁸ Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.^(AZ) For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”^(BA)

⁴⁹ “Master,”^(BB) said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.”

⁵⁰ “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”^(BC)

Samaritan Opposition

⁵¹ As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven,^(BD) Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.^{(BE) 52} And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan^(BF) village to get things ready for him; ⁵³ but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. ⁵⁴ When the disciples James and John^(BG) saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them^[b]?”^{(BH) 55} But Jesus turned and rebuked them. ⁵⁶ Then he and his disciples went to another village.

The Cost of Following Jesus^(BI)

⁵⁷ As they were walking along the road,^(BJ) a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

⁵⁸ Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man^(BK) has no place to lay his head.”

⁵⁹ He said to another man, “Follow me.”^(BL)

But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

⁶⁰ Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”^(BM)

⁶¹ Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”^(BN)

⁶² Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

1 Paul, an apostle^(A) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,^(B)

To God’s holy people^(C) in Ephesus,^[a](D) the faithful^(E) in Christ Jesus:

² Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.^(F)

Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(G) who has blessed us in the heavenly realms^(H) with every spiritual blessing in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us^(I) in him before the creation of the world^(J) to be holy and blameless^(K) in his sight. In love^{(L) 5} he^[b] predestined^(M) us for adoption to sonship^[c](N) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure^(O) and will— ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace,^(P) which he has freely given us in the One he loves.^{(Q) 7} In him we have redemption^(R) through his blood,^(S) the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches^(T) of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, ⁹ he^[d] made known to us the mystery^(U) of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed^(V) in Christ, ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment^(W)—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.^(X)

¹¹ In him we were also chosen,^[e] having been predestined^(Y) according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose^(Z) of his will, ¹² in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.^{(AA) 13} And you also were included in Christ^(AB) when you heard the message of truth,^(AC) the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal,^(AD) the promised Holy Spirit,^{(AE) 14} who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance^(AF) until the redemption^(AG) of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.^(AH)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

¹⁵ For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus^(AI) and your love for all God’s people,^{(AJ) 16} I have not stopped giving thanks for you,^(AK) remembering you in my prayers.^{(AL) 17} I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,^(AM) may give you the Spirit^[f] of wisdom^(AN) and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened^(AO) in order that you may know the hope to which he has called^(AP) you, the riches^(AQ) of his glorious inheritance^(AR) in his holy people,^{(AS) 19} and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power^(AT) is the same as the mighty strength^{(AU) 20} he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead^(AV) and seated him at his right hand^(AW) in the heavenly realms,^{(AX) 21} far above all rule and authority, power and dominion,^(AY) and every name^(AZ) that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.^{(BA) 22} And God placed all things under his feet^(BB) and appointed him to be head^(BC) over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body,^(BD) the fullness of him^(BE) who fills everything in every way.^(BF)

Made Alive in Christ

2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,^{(BG) 2} in which you used to live^(BH) when you followed the ways of this world^(BI) and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air,^(BJ) the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.^{(BK) 3} All of us also lived among them at one time,^(BL) gratifying the cravings of our flesh^[g](BM) and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴ But because of his great love for us,^(BN) God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions^(BO)—it is by grace you have been saved.^{(BP) 6} And God raised us up with Christ^(BQ) and seated us with him^(BR) in the heavenly realms^(BS) in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,^(BT) expressed in his kindness^(BU) to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For it is by grace^(BV) you have been saved,^(BW) through faith^(BX)—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works,^(BY) so that no one can boast.^{(BZ) 10} For we are God’s handiwork,^(CA) created^(CB) in Christ Jesus to do good works,^(CC) which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ

¹¹ Therefore, remember that formerly^(CD) you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)^(CE)— ¹² remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners^(CF) to the covenants of the promise,^(CG) without hope^(CH) and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once^(CI) were far away have been brought near^(CJ) by the blood of Christ.^(CK)

¹⁴ For he himself is our peace,^(CL) who has made the two groups one^(CM) and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ¹⁵ by setting aside in his flesh^(CN) the law with its commands and regulations.^(CO) His purpose was to create in himself one^(CP) new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross,^(CQ) by which he put to death their hostility. ¹⁷ He came and preached peace^(CR) to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.^{(CS) 18} For through him we both have access^(CT) to the Father^(CU) by one Spirit.^(CV)

¹⁹ Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers,^(CW) but fellow citizens^(CX) with God’s people and also members of his household,^{(CY) 20} built^(CZ) on the foundation^(DA) of the apostles and prophets,^(DB) with Christ Jesus himself^(DC) as the chief cornerstone.^{(DD) 21} In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple^(DE) in the Lord. ²² And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.^(DF)

God’s Marvelous Plan for the Gentiles

3 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner^(DG) of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

² Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me^(DH) for you, ³ that is, the mystery^(DI) made known to me by revelation,^(DJ) as I have already written briefly. ⁴ In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight^(DK) into the mystery of Christ, ⁵ which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.^{(DL) 6} This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs^(DM) together with Israel, members together of one body,^(DN) and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.^(DO)

⁷ I became a servant of this gospel^(DP) by the gift of God’s grace given me^(DQ) through the working of his power.^{(DR) 8} Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people,^(DS) this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles^(DT) the boundless riches of Christ,^{(DU) 9} and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery,^(DV) which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. ¹⁰ His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God^(DW) should be made known^(DX) to the rulers and authorities^(DY) in the heavenly realms,^{(DZ) 11} according to his eternal purpose^(EA) that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. ¹² In him and through faith in him we may approach God^(EB) with freedom and confidence.^{(EC) 13} I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

A Prayer for the Ephesians

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel^(ED) before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family^[h] in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches^(EE) he may strengthen you with power^(EF) through his Spirit in your inner being,^{(EG) 17} so that Christ may dwell in your hearts^(EH) through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted^(EI) and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people,^(EJ) to grasp how wide and long and high and deep^(EK) is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge^(EL)—that you may be filled^(EM) to the measure of all the fullness of God.^(EN)

²⁰ Now to him who is able^(EO) to do immeasurably more than all we ask^(EP) or imagine, according to his power^(EQ) that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.^(ER)