Commissioning the Twelve

10 Summoning His 12 disciples,(A) He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every[a] disease and sickness.(B) These are the names of the 12 apostles:(C)

First, Simon, who is called Peter,
and Andrew his brother;
James the son of Zebedee,
and John his brother;
Philip and Bartholomew;[b]
Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;
James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;[c]
Simon the Zealot,[d] and Judas Iscariot,[e]
who also betrayed Him.(D)

Jesus sent out these 12 after giving them instructions: “Don’t take the road leading to other nations, and don’t enter any Samaritan(E) town. Instead, go to the lost sheep(F) of the house of Israel.(G) As you go, announce this: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’(H) Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with skin diseases, drive out demons.(I) You have received free of charge; give free of charge. Don’t take along gold, silver, or copper for your money-belts.(J) 10 Don’t take a traveling bag for the road, or an extra shirt, sandals, or a walking stick, for the worker(K) is worthy of his food.

11 “When you enter any town or village, find out who is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 12 Greet a household when you enter it,(L) 13 and if the household is worthy, let your peace be on it. But if it is unworthy, let your peace return to you.(M) 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet(N) when you leave that house or town. 15 I assure you: It will be more tolerable on the day of judgment(O) for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.(P)

Persecutions Predicted

16 “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as harmless as doves.(Q)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 10:1 Or every kind of
  2. Matthew 10:3 Probably the Nathanael of Jn 1:45-51
  3. Matthew 10:3 Other mss read and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus
  4. Matthew 10:4 Lit the Cananaean
  5. Matthew 10:4 Iscariot is probably “a man of Kerioth,” a town in Judea.

Bible Gateway Recommends