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Jesus Chooses the Twelve Apostles

12 One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. 13 At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Here are their names:

14 Simon (whom he named Peter),
Andrew (Peter’s brother),
James,
John,
Philip,
Bartholomew,
15 Matthew,
Thomas,
James (son of Alphaeus),
Simon (who was called the zealot),
16 Judas (son of James),
Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).

Crowds Follow Jesus

17 When they came down from the mountain, the disciples stood with Jesus on a large, level area, surrounded by many of his followers and by the crowds. There were people from all over Judea and from Jerusalem and from as far north as the seacoasts of Tyre and Sidon. 18 They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those troubled by evil[a] spirits were healed. 19 Everyone tried to touch him, because healing power went out from him, and he healed everyone.

The Beatitudes

20 Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said,

“God blesses you who are poor,
    for the Kingdom of God is yours.
21 God blesses you who are hungry now,
    for you will be satisfied.
God blesses you who weep now,
    for in due time you will laugh.

22 What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man. 23 When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, their ancestors treated the ancient prophets that same way.

Sorrows Foretold

24 “What sorrow awaits you who are rich,
    for you have your only happiness now.
25 What sorrow awaits you who are fat and prosperous now,
    for a time of awful hunger awaits you.
What sorrow awaits you who laugh now,
    for your laughing will turn to mourning and sorrow.
26 What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds,
    for their ancestors also praised false prophets.

Love for Enemies

27 “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. 30 Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. 31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

32 “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! 33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! 34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

35 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

Do Not Judge Others

37 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. 6:18 Greek unclean.
  2. 6:38 Or The measure you give will be the measure you get back.

The Twelve Apostles(A)

12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.(B) 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:(C) 14 Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew,(D) Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Blessings and Woes(E)

17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon,(F) 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him,(G) because power was coming from him and healing them all.(H)

20 Looking at his disciples, he said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,
    for yours is the kingdom of God.(I)
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
    for you will be satisfied.(J)
Blessed are you who weep now,
    for you will laugh.(K)
22 Blessed are you when people hate you,
    when they exclude you(L) and insult you(M)
    and reject your name as evil,
        because of the Son of Man.(N)

23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy,(O) because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.(P)

24 “But woe to you who are rich,(Q)
    for you have already received your comfort.(R)
25 Woe to you who are well fed now,
    for you will go hungry.(S)
Woe to you who laugh now,
    for you will mourn and weep.(T)
26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
    for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.(U)

Love for Enemies(V)

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,(W) 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.(X) 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.(Y) 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.(Z)

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?(AA) Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?(AB) Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them,(AC) and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children(AD) of the Most High,(AE) because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful,(AF) just as your Father(AG) is merciful.

Judging Others(AH)

37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged.(AI) Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.(AJ) 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.(AK) For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”(AL)

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