Luke 9
Worldwide English (New Testament)
9 Jesus called his twelve disciples together. He gave them power over all the bad spirits, and power to heal sick people.
2 He sent them out to tell people about the kingdom of God and to heal sick people.
3 He said, `Take nothing with you for your trip. Do not take a walking stick, or a bag, or food, or money. And do not take two shirts.
4 When you go into a certain house, stay there until you leave the town.
5 Some people might not take you in. When you leave that town, shake the dust off your feet. That will be a sign to them.'
6 The disciples left and went through the towns. They told the good news and healed people everywhere.
7 Herod the ruler heard about all that was happening. He did not know what to think. Some people said John the Baptizer had risen from death.
8 Some people said Elijah had come back. And other people said that one of the old prophets of God had risen from death.
9 Herod said, `I cut off John's head. Now who is this man of whom I hear such things?' He wanted to see Jesus.
10 When the apostles came back, they told Jesus all they had done. He took them away with him and they went by themselves to a town called Bethsaida.
11 But the people found out and they followed him. He was glad to see them and talked to them about God's kingdom. He healed those who were sick.
12 When it was late in the day, the twelve disciples came to him. They said, `Send the people away so they can go to the towns and the farms to sleep and get something to eat. This is a lonely place.'
13 But Jesus said to them, `You give them food to eat.' They said, `All we have is five loaves of bread and two fish. Shall we go and buy food for all these people?'
14 There were about five thousand men. He said to his disciples, `Tell the people to sit down in groups of fifty.'
15 They did what he said, and they made all the people sit down.
16 He took the five loaves of bread and the two fish. He looked up to heaven and thanked God for them. Then he broke the bread. He gave it to the disciples to give to the people.
17 They all ate and had enough. They picked up twelve baskets full of pieces that were left.
18 One day Jesus was alone talking to God. His disciples were there too. He asked them, `Who do people say I am?'
19 They answered, `Some people say you are John the Baptizer. Others say you are Elijah. And others say that one of the old prophets of God has risen from death.'
20 Jesus said, `But who do you say I am?' Peter answered, `You are the Christ sent by God.'
21 Jesus said to them, `Do not tell this to anyone.'
22 Then he went on to say, `The Son of Man will have much trouble. The leaders of the people, the chief priests, and the scribes will not believe him. He will be killed. On the third day he will be raised from death.'
23 And He said to all the people, `If anyone wants to come with me, he must leave what he himself wants to do. Every day he must take up his cross [be ready to die] and come with me.
24 Anyone who tries to keep his life will lose it. And anyone who gives up his life for my sake will find it.
25 What good will it do a man if he gets the whole world for himself but loses his life or spoils it?
26 If anyone is ashamed of me and the things I say, the Son of man will be ashamed of that person when he comes. The Son of man will come with his holy angels and be great like his Father.
27 I tell you the truth. Some people are standing here who will not die before they see the kingdom of God.'
28 About eight days after saying these things, Jesus went up on a hill to talk with God. He took Peter, John, and James with him.
29 As he was talking with God, he was changed. His face was different. His clothes became very white and shining.
30 And then two men were talking with Jesus. They were Moses and Elijah.
31 Light was shining from them. They talked about his leaving this world. That would happen when he was in Jerusalem.
32 Peter and the others were very sleepy. They woke up and saw the light shining from Jesus. And they saw the two men standing with him.
33 When the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, `Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three places here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.' Peter did not know what he was saying.
34 As he said this, a cloud came over them. They were very much afraid when the cloud came around them.
35 A voice in the cloud said, `This is my dear Son. Listen to him!'
36 The talking stopped. Then Jesus was left alone. The disciples did not say anything. They did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.
37 The next day they came down the hill. Many people met him.
38 One man among them called out, `Teacher, I beg you, look at my son. He is my only child.
39 A bad spirit takes hold of him and he screams. It throws him around and makes him foam at his mouth. It beats him badly and does not want to leave him.
40 I begged your disciples to drive the bad spirit out, but they could not do it.'
41 Jesus said, `You people today do not believe. You have turned away from God. How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.'
42 While he was coming, the bad spirit knocked him down and threw him around. Jesus told the spirit to stop. He healed the boy and gave him back to his father.
43 All the people were surprised to see that God has so much power. While the people were wondering about everything Jesus did, he talked to his disciples.
44 He said, `Listen well to what I say. The Son of Man will be given over to men,'
45 But they did not understand what he said. The meaning was hidden from them so they would not understand it. And they were afraid to ask him about it.
46 The disciples started talking among themselves. They quarrelled about which of them was the greatest person.
47 Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he took a child and put him by his side.
48 Then he said, `If anyone takes in a child like this for my sake, he takes in me. And if anyone takes in me, he takes in the one who sent me. The one who takes the least or lowest place among you is the greatest.'
49 John answered, `Master, we saw a man driving bad spirits out of people. He was using your name. We told him to stop because he is not one of us.'
50 But Jesus said, `Do not stop him. Anyone who is not against you is on your side.'
51 The time was near for Jesus to be taken up to heaven. Then he started off for Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead of him.
52 They went to one of the towns of the Samaritan people to get ready for him.
53 But the people would not take him in because he was going to Jerusalem.
54 When the disciples James and John saw that, they said, `Lord, do you want us to ask for fire to come down from the sky and burn them up?'
55 But he turned and said to them, `Stop that! You do not think about what kind of spirit you are showing.
56 The Son of Man did not come to kill people, but to save them.' And they went on to another town.
57 As they went along on the road, a man said to him, `I will go anywhere you go.'
58 Jesus said, `Foxes have holes to live in. Birds have nests. But the Son of Man has no place to lie down to rest.'
59 Jesus said to another man who followed him, `Come with me.' But the man said, `Lord, let me go first and bury my father.'
60 Jesus said to him, `Let those who are dead bury their own dead people. As for you, go and tell people about God's kingdom.'
61 Another man said to Jesus, `Sir, I will go with you. But let me go first to my home and tell them I am going.'
62 Jesus said to him, `Any person who starts doing something and then keeps looking back is not fit for the kingdom of God.'
Luke 9
English Standard Version
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.
Herod Is Perplexed by Jesus
7 (J)Now (K)Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that (L)John had been raised from the dead, 8 (M)by some that Elijah had appeared, and (N)by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. 9 Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And (O)he sought to see him.
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
10 On their return (P)the apostles told him all that they had done. (Q)And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. 11 When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he (R)welcomed them and (S)spoke to them of the kingdom of God and (T)cured those who had need of healing. 12 Now (U)the day began to wear away, and the twelve came and said to him, (V)“Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place.” 13 But he said to them, (W)“You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than (X)five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” 14 For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 And they did so, and had them all sit down. 16 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, (Y)he looked up to heaven and (Z)said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.
Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ
18 (AA)Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 And they answered, (AB)“John the Baptist. But others say, (AC)Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” 20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, (AD)“The Christ of God.”
Jesus Foretells His Death
21 (AE)And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 (AF)saying, (AG)“The Son of Man must (AH)suffer many things and (AI)be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on (AJ)the third day be raised.”
Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him (AK)deny himself and (AL)take up his cross (AM)daily and follow me. 24 For (AN)whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 (AO)For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For (AP)whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed (AQ)when he comes in (AR)his glory and the glory of the Father and of (AS)the holy angels. 27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not (AT)taste death (AU)until they see the kingdom of God.”
The Transfiguration
28 (AV)Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him (AW)Peter and John and James and (AX)went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was (AY)altered, and (AZ)his clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure,[b] which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those who were with him (BA)were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake (BB)they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three (BC)tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—(BD)not knowing what he said. 34 As he was saying these things, (BE)a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And (BF)a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, (BG)my Chosen One;[c] (BH)listen to him!” 36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. (BI)And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.
Jesus Heals a Boy with an Unclean Spirit
37 (BJ)On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. 38 And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for (BK)he is my only child. 39 And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him. 40 And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but (BL)they could not.” 41 Jesus answered, “O (BM)faithless and twisted generation, (BN)how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” 42 While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus (BO)rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and (BP)gave him back to his father. 43 And all were astonished at (BQ)the majesty of God.
Jesus Again Foretells His Death
(BR)But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus[d] said (BS)to his disciples, 44 “Let these words sink into your ears: (BT)The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” 45 (BU)But they did not understand this saying, and (BV)it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
Who Is the Greatest?
46 (BW)An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. 47 But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side 48 and said to them, (BX)“Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and (BY)whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For (BZ)he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”
Anyone Not Against Us Is For Us
49 (CA)John answered, “Master, we saw someone (CB)casting out demons in your name, and (CC)we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” 50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, (CD)for the one who is not against you is for you.”
A Samaritan Village Rejects Jesus
51 When the days drew near for (CE)him to be taken up, (CF)he set his face (CG)to go to Jerusalem. 52 And (CH)he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of (CI)the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. 53 But (CJ)the people did not receive him, because (CK)his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell (CL)fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”[e] 55 But he turned and rebuked them.[f] 56 And they went on to another village.
The Cost of Following Jesus
57 As they were going (CM)along the road, (CN)someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus[g] said to him, “Leave (CO)the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and (CP)proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, (CQ)but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, (CR)“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Footnotes
- Luke 9:3 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
- Luke 9:31 Greek exodus
- Luke 9:35 Some manuscripts my Beloved
- Luke 9:43 Greek he
- Luke 9:54 Some manuscripts add as Elijah did
- Luke 9:55 Some manuscripts add And he said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of; 56 for the Son of Man came not to destroy people's lives but to save them”
- Luke 9:60 Greek he
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