Luke 9:1-36

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Commissioning the Twelve

9 Summoning the Twelve,^(A) He gave them power and authority over all the demons, and power to heal^[a] diseases.^{(B) 2} Then He sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.^(C)

³ “Take nothing for the road,”^(D) He told them, “no walking stick,^(E) no traveling bag, no bread, no money; and don’t take an extra shirt. ⁴ Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. ⁵ If they do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”^{(F) 6} So they went out and traveled from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing everywhere.

Herod’s Desire to See Jesus

⁷ Herod the tetrarch^(G) heard about everything that was going on.^(H) He was perplexed, because some said that John had been raised from the dead, ⁸ some that Elijah had appeared,^(I) and others that one of the ancient prophets had risen.^{(J) 9} “I beheaded John,” Herod said, “but who is this I hear such things about?” And he wanted to see Him.^(K)

Feeding 5,000

¹⁰ When the apostles returned,^(L) they reported to Jesus all that they had done.^(M) He took them along and withdrew privately to a^[b] town called Bethsaida.^{(N) 11} When the crowds found out, they followed Him. He welcomed them,^(O) spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and cured^[c] those who needed healing.

¹² Late in the day,^[d](P) the Twelve approached and said to Him, “Send the crowd away,^(Q) so they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find food and lodging, because we are in a deserted place here.”

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

“We have no more than five loaves^(R) and two fish,” they said, “unless we go and buy food for all these people.” ¹⁴ (For about 5,000 men were there.)

Then He told His disciples, “Have them sit down^[e] in groups of about 50 each.” ¹⁵ They did so, and had them all sit down. ¹⁶ Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven,^(S) He blessed and broke them.^(T) He kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd. ¹⁷ Everyone ate and was filled. Then they picked up^[f] 12 baskets of leftover pieces.

Peter’s Confession of the Messiah

¹⁸ While He was praying in private^(U) and His disciples were with Him, He asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”

¹⁹ They answered, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, that one of the ancient prophets has come back.”^[g](V)

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

Peter answered, “God’s Messiah!”^(W)

His Death and Resurrection Predicted

²¹ But He strictly warned and instructed them to tell this to no one,^{(X) 22} saying,^(Y) “The Son of Man^(Z) must suffer many things^(AA) and be rejected^(AB) by the elders, chief priests, and scribes,^(AC) be killed, and be raised the third day.”^(AD)

Take Up Your Cross

²³ Then He said to them all, “If anyone wants to come with^[h] Me, he must deny himself,^(AE) take up his cross daily,^[i] and follow Me.^{(AF) 24} For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will save it.^{(AG) 25} What is a man benefited if he gains the whole world, yet loses or forfeits himself?^{(AH) 26} For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words,^(AI) the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory^(AJ) and that of the Father and the holy angels.^{(AK) 27} I tell you the truth: There are some standing here who will not taste death^(AL) until they see the kingdom of God.”^(AM)

The Transfiguration

²⁸ About eight days after these words,^(AN) He took along Peter, John, and James^(AO) and went up on the mountain to pray.^{(AP) 29} As He was praying, the appearance of His face changed,^(AQ) and His clothes became dazzling white.^{(AR) 30} Suddenly, two men were talking with Him—Moses and Elijah. ³¹ They appeared in glory and were speaking of His death,^[j] which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.

³² Peter and those with him were in a deep sleep,^[k](AS) and when they became fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who were standing with Him. ³³ As the two men were departing from Him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master,^(AT) it’s good for us to be here! Let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.^(AU)

³⁴ While he was saying this, a cloud appeared and overshadowed^(AV) them. They became afraid as they entered the cloud. ³⁵ Then a voice came from the cloud,^(AW) saying:

³⁶ After the voice had spoken, only Jesus was found. They kept silent, and in those days told no one what they had seen.