Luke 9
International Children’s Bible
Jesus Sends Out the Apostles
9 Jesus called the 12 apostles together. He gave them power to heal sicknesses and power over all demons. 2 Jesus sent the apostles out to tell about God’s kingdom and to heal the sick. 3 He said to them, “When you travel, don’t take a walking stick. Also, don’t carry a bag, or food, or money. Take for your trip only the clothes you are wearing. 4 When you go into a house, stay there until it is time to leave. 5 If the people in the town will not welcome you, go outside the town and shake the dust off of your feet.[a] This will be a warning to them.”
6 So the apostles went out. They traveled through all the towns. They told the Good News and healed people everywhere.
Herod Is Confused About Jesus
7 Herod, the governor, heard about all these things that were happening. He was confused because some people said, “John the Baptist is risen from death.” 8 Others said, “Elijah has come to us.” And still others said, “One of the prophets from long ago has risen from death.” 9 Herod said, “I cut off John’s head. So who is this man I hear these things about?” And Herod kept trying to see Jesus.
More Than 5,000 People Fed
10 When the apostles returned, they told Jesus all the things they had done on their trip. Then Jesus took them away to a town called Bethsaida. There, Jesus and his apostles could be alone together. 11 But the people learned where Jesus went and followed him. Jesus welcomed them and talked with them about God’s kingdom. He healed those who needed to be healed.
12 Late in the afternoon, the 12 apostles came to Jesus and said, “No one lives in this place. Send the people away. They need to find food and places to sleep in the towns and countryside around here.”
13 But Jesus said to them, “You give them something to eat.”
They said, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish. Do you want us to go buy food for all these people?” 14 (There were about 5,000 men there.)
Jesus said to his followers, “Tell the people to sit in groups of about 50 people.”
15 So the followers did this, and all the people sat down. 16 Then Jesus took the five loaves of bread and two fish. He looked up to heaven and thanked God for the food. Then Jesus divided the food and gave it to the followers to give to the people. 17 All the people ate and were satisfied. And there was much food left. Twelve baskets were filled with pieces of food that were not eaten.
Jesus Is the Christ
18 One time when Jesus was praying alone, his followers came together there. Jesus asked them, “Who do the people say I am?”
19 They answered, “Some say you are John the Baptist. Others say you are Elijah.[b] And others say you are one of the prophets from long ago who has come back to life.”
20 Then Jesus asked, “And who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Christ from God.”
21 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone. Then he said, 22 “The Son of Man must suffer many things. He will be rejected by the Jewish elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of the law. The Son of Man will be killed. But after three days he will be raised from death.”
23 Jesus went on to say to all of them, “If anyone wants to follow me, he must say ‘no’ to the things he wants. Every day he must be willing even to die on a cross, and he must follow me. 24 Whoever wants to save his life will lose it. And whoever gives his life for me will save it. 25 It is worth nothing for a man to have the whole world, if he himself is destroyed or lost. 26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my teaching, then I[c] will be ashamed of him. I will be ashamed of him at the time I come with my glory and with the glory of the Father and the holy angels. 27 I tell you the truth. Some of you people standing here will see the kingdom of God before you die.”
Jesus with Moses and Elijah
28 About eight days after Jesus said these things, he took Peter, James, and John and went up on a mountain to pray. 29 While Jesus was praying, his face was changed, and his clothes became shining white. 30 Then two men were talking with Jesus. The men were Moses and Elijah.[d] 31 They appeared in heavenly glory, talking with Jesus about his death which would happen in Jerusalem. 32 Peter and the others were asleep. But they woke up and saw the glory of Jesus. They also saw the two men who were standing with him. 33 When Moses and Elijah were about to leave, Peter said, “Master, it is good that we are here. We will put three tents here—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (Peter did not know what he was saying.)
34 While Peter was saying these things, a cloud came down all around them. Peter, James, and John became afraid when the cloud covered them. 35 A voice came from the cloud. The voice said, “This is my Son. He is the One I have chosen. Obey him.”
36 When the voice finished speaking, only Jesus was there. Peter, James, and John said nothing. At that time they told no one about what they had seen.
Jesus Heals a Sick Boy
37 The next day, Jesus, Peter, James, and John came down from the mountain. A large crowd met Jesus. 38 A man in the crowd shouted to Jesus, “Teacher, please come and look at my son. He is the only child I have. 39 An evil spirit comes into my son, and then he shouts. He loses control of himself, and he foams at the mouth. The evil spirit keeps on hurting him and almost never leaves him. 40 I begged your followers to make the evil spirit leave my son, but they could not do it.”
41 Jesus answered, “You people who live now have no faith. Your lives are all wrong. How long must I be with you and be patient with you?” Then Jesus said to the man, “Bring your son here.”
42 While the boy was coming, the demon threw him on the ground. The boy lost control of himself. But Jesus gave a strong command to the evil spirit. Then the boy was healed, and Jesus gave him back to his father. 43 All the people were amazed at the great power of God.
Jesus Talks About His Death
The people were all wondering about the things Jesus did. But he said to his followers, 44 “Don’t forget the things I tell you now: The Son of Man will be handed over into the control of men.” 45 But the followers did not understand what Jesus meant. The meaning was hidden from them so that they could not understand it. But they were afraid to ask Jesus about what he said.
The Most Important Person
46 Jesus’ followers began to have an argument about which one of them was the greatest. 47 Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he took a little child and stood the child beside him. 48 Then Jesus said, “If anyone accepts a little child like this in my name, then he accepts me. And when he accepts me, he accepts the One who sent me. He who is least among you all—he is the greatest.”
Anyone Not Against Us Is for Us
49 John answered, “Master, we saw someone using your name to force demons out of people. We told him to stop because he does not belong to our group.”
50 Jesus said to him, “Don’t stop him. If a person is not against you, then he is for you.”
A Samaritan Town
51 The time was coming near when Jesus would leave and be taken to heaven. He was determined to go to Jerusalem 52 and sent some men ahead of him. The men went into a town in Samaria to make everything ready for Jesus. 53 But the people there would not welcome him because he was going toward Jerusalem. 54 James and John, the followers of Jesus, saw this. They said, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven and destroy those people?”[e]
55 But Jesus turned and scolded them. [And Jesus said, “You don’t know what kind of spirit you belong to. 56 The Son of Man did not come to destroy the souls of men but to save them.”][f] Then he and his followers went to another town.
Following Jesus
57 They were all going along the road. Someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you any place you go.”
58 Jesus answered, “The foxes have holes to live in. The birds have nests to live in. But the Son of Man has no place to rest his head.”
59 Jesus said to another man, “Follow me!”
But the man said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
60 But Jesus said to him, “Let the people who are dead bury their own dead! You must go and tell about the kingdom of God.”
61 Another man said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to my family.”
62 Jesus said, “Anyone who begins to plow a field but keeps looking back is of no use in the kingdom of God.”
Footnotes
- 9:5 shake . . . feet A warning. It showed that they were finished talking to these people.
- 9:19 Elijah A man who spoke for God. He lived hundreds of years before Christ.
- 9:26 I Literally, “the Son of Man.”
- 9:30 Moses and Elijah Two of the most important Jewish leaders in the past.
- 9:54 people Some Greek copies add: “. . . as Elijah did.”
- 9:55-56 And . . . them. Some Greek copies do not contain the bracketed text.
路加福音 9
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
差遣十二使徒
9 耶穌召集了十二個使徒，賜他們能力和權柄可以醫病趕鬼， 2 又差遣他們出去宣講上帝國的福音、醫治病人。 3 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。 4 有人家接待你們，就住下來，一直住到你們離開。 5 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。」
6 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
7 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」， 8 有人說：「以利亞顯現了」，還有人說：「古代的某個先知復活了」。 9 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。」
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
