Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

9 ^(A)And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, ^2 (B)and he sent them out to ^(C)proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. ^3 (D)And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, ^(E)no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.^{[a] 4} And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. ⁵ And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town ^(F)shake off the dust from your feet ^(G)as a testimony ^(H)against them.” ^6 (I)And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

^2 (A)Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. ³ Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in ^(B)private rooms shall be proclaimed on ^(C)the housetops.

Have No Fear

⁴ “I tell you, my friends, ^(D)do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. ⁵ But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him ^(E)who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell.^[a] Yes, I tell you, fear him! ⁶ Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?^[b] And ^(F)not one of them is forgotten before God. ⁷ Why, ^(G)even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; ^(H)you are of more value than many sparrows.

Acknowledge Christ Before Men

⁸ “And I tell you, ^(I)everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge ^(J)before the angels of God, ⁹ but ^(K)the one who denies me before men ^(L)will be denied ^(M)before the angels of God. ¹⁰ And ^(N)everyone who speaks a word ^(O)against the Son of Man ^(P)will be forgiven, but the one who ^(Q)blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.