差遣十二使徒

耶穌召集了十二個使徒,賜他們能力和權柄可以醫病趕鬼, 又差遣他們出去宣講上帝國的福音、醫治病人。 耶穌叮囑他們:「出門的時候,什麼也不要帶,不要帶手杖、背包、乾糧、金錢,也不要帶兩件衣服。 有人家接待你們,就住下來,一直住到你們離開。 如果有人不歡迎你們,你們在離開那城的時候,就把腳上的塵土跺掉,作為對他們的警告。」

使徒領命出發,走遍各個鄉村,到處宣揚福音,替人治病。

希律的困惑

耶穌的事蹟很快便傳到希律耳中,令他十分困惑,因為有人說:「約翰死而復活了」, 有人說:「以利亞顯現了」,還有人說:「古代的某個先知復活了」。 希律說:「約翰已經被我斬首,這個行奇事的人到底是誰呢?」於是他想見耶穌。

五餅二魚的神蹟

10 使徒回來後,向耶穌報告了他們所行的事。隨後耶穌帶著他們悄悄地來到伯賽大城。 11 但百姓發現了耶穌的行蹤,隨即也趕來了。耶穌接待他們,向他們宣講天國的福音,醫好了有病的人。 12 黃昏將近,十二個使徒過來對耶穌說:「請遣散眾人,好讓他們到附近的村莊去借宿找吃的,因為這地方很偏僻。」

13 耶穌對他們說:「你們給他們吃的吧。」

使徒們說:「我們只有五個餅和兩條魚,除非我們去買食物才夠這麼一大群人吃。」 14 當時那裡約有五千男人。

耶穌便對使徒說:「讓這些人分組坐下,每組大約五十人。」 15 於是使徒安排眾人都坐好。 16 耶穌拿起那五個餅、兩條魚,舉目望著天祝謝後,掰開遞給門徒,讓他們分給眾人。 17 大家都吃飽了,把剩下的零碎收拾起來,竟裝滿了十二個籃子。

彼得宣告耶穌是基督

18 有一次,耶穌獨自禱告的時候,門徒也在旁邊。

耶穌問他們:「人們說我是誰?」

19 他們答道:「有人說你是施洗者約翰,也有人說你是以利亞,或是一位復活的古代先知。」

20 耶穌對他們說:「那麼,你們說我是誰?」

彼得回答說:「你是上帝所立的基督。」

21 耶穌鄭重地吩咐他們不許洩露祂的身分, 22 又說:「人子必須受許多苦,被長老、祭司長和律法教師棄絕,殺害,但必在第三天復活。」

跟從主的代價

23 耶穌又教導眾人說:「如果有人要跟從我,就應當捨己,天天背起他的十字架跟從我。 24 因為想救自己生命的,必失去生命;但為了我而失去生命的,必得到生命。 25 人若賺得全世界,卻失去自己或喪掉自己,又有什麼益處呢? 26 如果有人以我和我的道為恥,將來人子在自己、天父和聖天使的榮耀中降臨時,也必以這人為恥。 27 我實在告訴你們,有些站在這裡的人在有生之年就必看見上帝的國。」

登山變象

28 講完這些話後大約八天,耶穌帶著彼得、約翰和雅各一同到山上禱告。 29 耶穌在禱告的時候,容貌改變了,衣裳潔白發光。 30 忽然,摩西和以利亞二人在跟耶穌交談。 31 二人在榮光中顯現,談論有關耶穌離世的事情,就是祂在耶路撒冷將要成就的事。 32 彼得和兩個同伴都睏得睡著了,他們醒來後,看見了耶穌的榮光以及站在祂身邊的兩個人。 33 當摩西和以利亞要離開時,彼得對耶穌說:「老師,我們在這裡真好!讓我們搭三座帳篷,一座給你,一座給摩西,一座給以利亞。」其實彼得並不知道自己在說什麼。 34 他的話還沒說完,有一朵雲彩飄來,籠罩他們,他們進入雲彩中,都很害怕。 35 雲彩中有聲音說:「這是我的兒子,是我揀選的,你們要聽從祂!」 36 聲音消逝了,門徒只見耶穌獨自在那裡。那些日子,他們對這事都絕口不提,沒有告訴任何人。

山下趕鬼

37 次日,他們來到山下,有一大群人迎接耶穌。 38 人群中有一個人高聲喊叫:「老師,求求你看看我的兒子吧!他是我的獨生子, 39 鬼控制著他,他常常突然狂喊亂叫、抽搐、口吐白沫,倍受折磨,無休無止。 40 我曾求過你的門徒把鬼趕出去,但他們都無能為力。」

41 耶穌回答說:「唉!這又不信又敗壞的世代啊!我要跟你們在一起容忍你們多久呢?把你的兒子帶來吧。」

42 那孩子走過來時,鬼又把他摔倒,使他抽搐,耶穌立刻斥責污鬼,把那孩子治好了,交給他父親。 43 大家看見了上帝的大能,都很驚奇。

再次預言受難

他們正為耶穌所做的一切驚訝不已時,耶穌對門徒說: 44 「你們要牢記人子所說的話,因為祂將要被交到人的手裡。」 45 但門徒不明白這句話的意思,因為還沒有向他們顯明,他們聽不懂,又不敢追問耶穌。

論地位

46 門徒開始議論他們當中誰最偉大。 47 耶穌知道他們的心思,就叫了一個小孩子來,讓他站在自己身旁, 48 然後對門徒說:「任何人為了我的緣故接待這樣一個小孩子,就是接待我;接待我,就是接待差我來的那位。你們當中最卑微的其實是最偉大的。」

49 約翰說:「老師,我們看見有人奉你的名趕鬼,就阻止他,因為他不是和我們一起跟從你的。」 50 耶穌卻對他說:「你不要阻止他,因為不反對你們的,就是支持你們的。」

不肯接待耶穌的村莊

51 耶穌被接回天家的日子快到了,祂決定前往耶路撒冷。 52 祂先派人到撒瑪利亞的一個村莊去預備食宿, 53 但撒瑪利亞人見他們是上耶路撒冷去的,不肯接待他們。 54 祂的門徒雅各和約翰見狀,說:「主啊,你要我們[a]叫天上的火降下來燒死他們嗎?」 55 耶穌轉過身來責備他們[b] 56 接著,一行人改道去另一個村子。

跟從主的代價

57 在路上有人對耶穌說:「無論你往哪裡去,我都要跟從你。」

58 耶穌對他說:「狐狸有洞,飛鳥有窩,人子卻沒有安枕之處。」

59 耶穌又對另一個人說:「跟從我!」但是那人說:「主啊,請讓我先回去安葬我的父親。」

60 耶穌說:「讓死人去埋葬他們的死人吧,你只管去傳揚上帝國的福音。」

61 又有一個人說:「主啊!我願意跟從你,但請讓我先回去向家人告別。」

62 耶穌說:「手扶著犁向後看的人不配進上帝的國。」

Footnotes

  1. 9·54 有古卷加「像以利亞一樣」。
  2. 9·55 有古卷在「責備他們」之後有「說,『你們的心如何,你們自己不知道,人子來是為了拯救人,不是為了毀滅人。』」

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve(A)

Yeshua called the twelve apostles together and gave them power and authority over every demon and power and authority to cure diseases. He sent them to spread the message about the kingdom of God and to cure the sick.

He told them, “Don’t take anything along on the trip. Don’t take a walking stick, traveling bag, any food, money, or a change of clothes. When you go into a home, stay there until you’re ready to leave. If people don’t welcome you, leave that city, and shake its dust off your feet as a warning to them.”

The apostles went from village to village, told the Good News, and cured the sick everywhere.

Rumors about Jesus(B)

Herod the ruler heard about everything that was happening. He didn’t know what to make of it. Some people were saying that John had come back to life. Others said that Elijah had appeared, and still others said that one of the prophets from long ago had come back to life.

Herod said, “I had John’s head cut off. Who is this person I’m hearing so much about?” So Herod wanted to see Yeshua.

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand(C)

10 The apostles came back and told Yeshua everything they had done. He took them with him to a city called Bethsaida so that they could be alone. 11 But the crowds found out about this and followed him. He welcomed them, talked to them about the kingdom of God, and cured those who were sick.

12 Toward the end of the day, the twelve apostles came to him. They said to him, “Send the crowd to the closest villages and farms so that they can find some food and a place to stay. No one lives around here.”

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

They said to him, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish. Unless we go to buy food for all these people, that’s all we have.” 14 (There were about five thousand men.)

Then he told his disciples, “Have them sit in groups of about fifty.” 15 So they did this.

16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, and blessed the food. He broke the loaves apart and kept giving them to the disciples to give to the crowd. 17 All of them ate as much as they wanted. When they picked up the leftover pieces, they filled twelve baskets.

Peter Declares His Belief about Jesus(D)

18 Once when Yeshua was praying privately and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

19 They answered, “Some say you are John the Baptizer, others Elijah, and still others say that one of the prophets from long ago has come back to life.”

20 He asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, whom God has sent.”

21 He ordered them not to tell this to anyone.

Jesus Foretells That He Will Die and Come Back to Life(E)

22 Yeshua said that the Son of Man would have to suffer a lot. He would be rejected by the leaders, the chief priests, and the experts in Moses’ Teachings. He would be killed, but on the third day he would come back to life.

What It Means to Follow Jesus(F)

23 He said to all of them, “Those who want to come with me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses every day, and follow me. 24 Those who want to save their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives for me will save them. 25 What good does it do for people to win the whole world but lose their lives by destroying them? 26 If people are ashamed of me and what I say, the Son of Man will be ashamed of those people when he comes in the glory that he shares with the Father and the holy angels.

27 “I can guarantee this truth: Some people who are standing here will not die until they see the kingdom of God.”

Moses and Elijah Appear with Jesus(G)

28 About eight days after he had said this, Yeshua took Peter, John, and James with him and went up a mountain to pray. 29 While Yeshua was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30 Suddenly, both Moses and Elijah were talking with him. 31 They appeared in heavenly glory and were discussing Yeshua’s approaching death and what he was about to fulfill in Jerusalem.

32 Peter and the men with him were sleeping soundly. When they woke up, they saw Yeshua’s glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As Moses and Elijah were leaving him, Peter said to Yeshua, “Teacher, it’s good that we’re here. Let’s put up three tents—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Peter didn’t know what he was saying.

34 While he was saying this, a cloud overshadowed them. They were frightened as they went into the cloud. 35 A voice came out of the cloud and said, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to him!”

36 After the voice had spoken, they saw that Yeshua was alone. The disciples said nothing, and for some time they told no one about what they had seen.

Jesus Cures a Demon-Possessed Boy(H)

37 The next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a large crowd met Yeshua. 38 A man in the crowd shouted, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son. He’s my only child. 39 Whenever a spirit takes control of him, he shrieks, goes into convulsions, and foams at the mouth. After a struggle, the spirit goes away, leaving the child worn out. 40 I begged your disciples to force the spirit out of him, but they couldn’t do it.”

41 Yeshua answered, “You unbelieving and corrupt generation! How long must I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here!”

42 While he was coming to Yeshua, the demon knocked the boy to the ground and threw him into convulsions.

Yeshua ordered the evil spirit to leave. He cured the boy and gave him back to his father. 43 Everyone was amazed to see God’s wonderful power.

The Son of Man Again Foretells His Betrayal(I)

Everyone was amazed at all the things that Yeshua was doing. So he said to his disciples, 44 “Listen carefully to what I say. The Son of Man will be betrayed and handed over to people.”

45 They didn’t know what he meant. The meaning was hidden from them so that they didn’t understand it. Besides, they were afraid to ask him about what he had said.

Greatness in the Kingdom(J)

46 A discussion started among them about who would be the greatest. 47 Yeshua knew what they were thinking. So he 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. Whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. The one who is least among all of you is the one who is greatest.”

Using the Name of Jesus(K)

49 John replied, “Master, we saw someone forcing demons out of a person by using the power and authority of your name. We tried to stop him because he was not one of us.”

50 Yeshua said to him, “Don’t stop him! Whoever isn’t against you is for you.”

People from a Samaritan Village Reject Jesus

51 The time was coming closer for Yeshua to be taken to heaven. So he was determined to go to Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers ahead of him. They went into a Samaritan village to arrange a place for him to stay. 53 But the people didn’t welcome him, because he was on his way to Jerusalem. 54 James and John, his disciples, saw this. They asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to burn them up?”

55 But he turned and corrected them.[a] 56 So they went to another village.

What It Takes to Be a Disciple(L)

57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to Yeshua, “I’ll follow you wherever you go.”

58 Yeshua told him, “Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to sleep.”

59 He told another man, “Follow me!”

But the man said, “Sir, first let me go to bury my father.”

60 But Yeshua told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You must go everywhere and tell about the kingdom of God.”

61 Another said, “I’ll follow you, sir, but first let me tell my family goodbye.”

62 Yeshua said to him, “Whoever starts to plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God.”

Footnotes

  1. Luke 9:55 Some manuscripts and translations add “‘You don’t know the kind of spirit that is influencing you. The Son of Man didn’t come to destroy people’s lives but to save them,’ he said.”