² After they set out from Rephidim,^(A) they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.^(B)

³ Then Moses went up to God,^(C) and the Lord called^(D) to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ⁴ ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt,^(E) and how I carried you on eagles’ wings^(F) and brought you to myself.^{(G) 5} Now if you obey me fully^(H) and keep my covenant,^(I) then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.^(J) Although the whole earth^(K) is mine, ⁶ you^[a] will be for me a kingdom of priests^(L) and a holy nation.’^(M) These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

⁷ So Moses went back and summoned the elders^(N) of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak.^{(O) 8} The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.”^(P) So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

Peace and Hope

5 Therefore, since we have been justified^(A) through faith,^(B) we^[a] have peace^(C) with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,^{(D) 2} through whom we have gained access^(E) by faith into this grace in which we now stand.^(F) And we^[b] boast in the hope^(G) of the glory of God. ³ Not only so, but we^[c] also glory in our sufferings,^(H) because we know that suffering produces perseverance;^{(I) 4} perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope^(J) does not put us to shame, because God’s love^(K) has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,^(L) who has been given to us.

⁶ You see, at just the right time,^(M) when we were still powerless,^(N) Christ died for the ungodly.^{(O) 7} Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.^(P)

The Workers Are Few

³⁵ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.^{(A) 36} When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them,^(B) because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.^{(C) 37} Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest^(D) is plentiful but the workers are few.^{(E) 38} Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve^{(F)(G)(H)(I)(J)}

10 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits^(K) and to heal every disease and sickness.^(L)

² These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; ⁴ Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.^(M)

⁵ These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.^{(N) 6} Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.^{(O) 7} As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven^(P) has come near.’ ⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,^[a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.