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The Twelve Disciples; Instructions for Service

10 Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority and power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.(A)

Now these are the names of the twelve [a]apostles (special messengers, personally chosen representatives): first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother; [b]James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;(B) Philip and Bartholomew (Nathanael); Thomas and Matthew (Levi) the tax collector; [c]James the son of [d]Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus (Judas, not Iscariot); Simon the Cananaean (Zealot), and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him.

Jesus sent out these twelve, instructing them: “Do not go among the Gentiles, and do not go into a city of the Samaritans; but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Do not take gold, or silver, or [even] copper money in your money belt, 10 or a provision bag for your journey, or even two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker deserves his support. 11 Whatever city or village you enter, ask who in it is worthy [who welcomes you and your message], and stay at his house until you leave [that city]. 12 As you go into the house, give it your greeting [that is, ‘Peace be to this house’]. 13 If [the family living in] the house is worthy [welcoming you and your message], give it your [blessing of] [e]peace [that is, a blessing of well-being and prosperity, the favor of God]. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. 14 Whoever does not welcome you, nor listen to your message, as you leave that house or city, [f]shake the dust [of it] off your feet [in contempt, breaking all ties].(C) 15 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of [g]Sodom and Gomorrah than for that city [since it rejected the Messiah’s messenger].

A Hard Road before Them

16 “Listen carefully: I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be wise as serpents, and innocent as doves [have no self-serving agenda].(D) 17 Beware of men [whose nature is to act in opposition to God], for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues; 18 and you will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given you within that [very] hour;(E) 20 for it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; and children will rise up and rebel against their parents and cause them to be put death. 22 And you will be hated by everyone because of [your association with] My name, but it is the one who has patiently persevered and endured to the end who will be saved.

23 “When they persecute you in one city [because of your faith in Me], flee to the next; for I assure you and most solemnly say to you, you will not finish going through all the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

The Meaning of Discipleship

24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor is a bond-servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the bond-servant like his master. If they have called the head of the house [h]Beelzebul (Satan), how much more [will they speak evil of] the members of his household.(F)

26 “So do not be afraid of them, for nothing is hidden that will not be revealed [at the judgment], or kept secret that will not be made known [at the judgment].(G) 27 What I say to you in the dark (privately), tell in the light (publicly); and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops [to many people]. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather be afraid of Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two little sparrows sold for a [i]copper coin? And yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered [for the Father is sovereign and has complete knowledge]. 31 So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

32 “Therefore, the one who [j]confesses and acknowledges Me before men [as Lord and Savior, affirming a state of oneness with Me], that one I will also confess and acknowledge before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But the one who denies and rejects Me before men, that one I will also deny and reject before My Father who is in heaven.

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword [of division between belief and unbelief].(H) 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his [own] household [when one believes and another does not].(I)

37 [k]He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.(J) 38 And he who does not take his [l]cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] is not worthy of Me. 39 Whoever finds his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], and whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake will find it [that is, life with Me for all eternity].(K)

The Reward of Service

40 “He who receives and welcomes you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.(L) 41 He who receives and welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous (honorable) man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives to one of these little ones [these who are humble in rank or influence] even a cup of cold water to drink because he is my disciple, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 10:2 In general usage the word “apostle” (Gr apostolos) means “sent one” or “messenger.” In this passage and others in reference to the “twelve,” the word “apostles” is used in a technical sense of the twelve disciples, and later Paul, whom Jesus chose. An apostle was one who witnessed Christ’s resurrection (Acts 1:21, 22; 1 Cor 9:1, 2). They validated their apostleship by performing “signs and wonders and miracles” (2 Cor 12:12), and were the foundation of the church.
  2. Matthew 10:2 It is believed that Salome, Zebedee’s wife and the mother of James and John was a sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
  3. Matthew 10:3 Also known as James the Less or James the Younger. It is believed that his mother, Mary (Gr Maria), was a sister or sister-in-law of Mary, the mother of Jesus (John 19:25).
  4. Matthew 10:3 Possibly the Hebrew or Syriac name of the same person: Clopas. He may be the “Cleopas” mentioned in Luke 24:18.
  5. Matthew 10:13 I.e. “shalom” is to come upon this house.
  6. Matthew 10:14 A symbolic act expressing contempt.
  7. Matthew 10:15 The cities destroyed by God because of the sinfulness of their people (Gen 19:1-29).
  8. Matthew 10:25 I.e. an idol worshiped in the Philistine city of Ekron: Baal Zebul, lord of the high places or Baal Zebub, lord of the flies.
  9. Matthew 10:29 Gr assarion, a Roman coin equal to a 16th of a denarius (the denarius was counted as a day’s wages for an unskilled worker).
  10. Matthew 10:32 The word “confess” used in conjunction with “before” connotes a legal statement or a testimony in a legal setting.
  11. Matthew 10:37 Commitment to Jesus takes precedence over all else.
  12. Matthew 10:38 The historical background behind this statement is that those who were about to be crucified had to carry the crossbeam to which they would be nailed or bound. In addition to the terrible agony that crucifixion inflicted, it was such a great indignity that some of the Roman writers used the word cross as a curse word in the expression “Go to a bad cross!” (Lat i in malam crucem).

10 · kai Jesus gathered proskaleō · ho his autos twelve dōdeka disciples mathētēs and gave didōmi them autos authority exousia over unclean akathartos spirits pneuma so hōste that they could drive ekballō them autos out and kai heal therapeuō every pas kind of disease nosos and kai sickness malakia. These houtos are eimi the ho names onoma of the ho · de twelve dōdeka apostles apostolos: first prōtos, Simon Simōn, who ho is called legō Peter Petros, then kai Andrew Andreas · ho his autos brother adelphos; · kai James Iakōbos the ho son of ho Zebedee Zebedaios, and kai John Iōannēs · ho his autos brother adelphos; Philip Philippos and kai Bartholomew Bartholomaios; Thomas Thōmas and kai Matthew the ho tax telōnēs collector ; James Iakōbos the ho son of ho Alphaeus Halphaios, and kai Thaddaeus Thaddaios; Simon Simōn the ho Cananaean Kananaios, and kai Judas Ioudas · ho Iscariot Iskariōtēs, who ho · kai betrayed paradidōmi him autos.

These houtos · ho twelve dōdeka Jesus Iēsous sent apostellō out · ho after instructing parangellō them autos as follows legō: “ Do aperchomai not go aperchomai among eis hodos the Gentiles ethnos and kai do eiserchomai not enter eiserchomai any Samaritan Samaritēs town polis; but de go poreuō rather mallon to pros the ho lost apollymi sheep probaton · ho of the house oikos of Israel Israēl. As you go poreuō, · de proclaim kēryssō the message, saying legō, ‘ The ho kingdom basileia of ho heaven ouranos is at hand engizō.’ Heal therapeuō the sick astheneō, raise egeirō the dead nekros, cleanse katharizō the lepers lepros, drive out ekballō demons daimonion. Freely dōrean you received lambanō, freely dōrean give didōmi. Do not take ktaomai gold chrysos, or mēde silver argyros, or mēde copper chalkos in eis · ho your hymeis money zōnē belts , 10 or a bag pēra for eis your journey hodos, or mēde two dyo tunics chitōn, or mēde sandals hypodēma, or mēde a staff rhabdos; for gar the ho worker ergatēs deserves axios · ho his autos keep trophē. 11 And whatever hos · de town polis or ē village kōmē you enter eiserchomai, find exetazō out who tis in en it autos is eimi worthy axios and kakei stay menō there until heōs an you leave exerchomai. 12 And de when you enter eiserchomai a ho house oikia, give aspazomai it autos your greeting . 13 · kai If ean the ho household oikia is eimi worthy axios, let your hymeis greeting of peace eirēnē come erchomai · ho upon epi it autos; but de if ean it is eimi not worthy axios, let epistrephō · ho your hymeis peace eirēnē return epistrephō to pros you hymeis. 14 And kai if anyone hos will not receive dechomai you hymeis or mēde listen akouō to · ho your hymeis message logos, as you leave exerchomai · ho that house oikia or ē · ho that ekeinos town polis shake ektinassō off the ho dust koniortos from ho your hymeis feet pous. 15 I tell legō you hymeis the truth amēn, it will be eimi more bearable anektos for the land of Sodom Sodoma and kai Gomorrah Gomorra in en the day hēmera of judgment krisis than ē for · ho that ekeinos town polis.

16  Behold idou, I egō am sending apostellō you hymeis out as hōs sheep probaton in en the midst mesos of wolves lykos; so oun be ginomai shrewd phronimos as hōs · ho serpents ophis and kai innocent akeraios as hōs · ho doves peristera. 17 And de beware prosechō of apo · ho men anthrōpos, for gar they will hand paradidōmi you hymeis over to eis the courts synedrion, and kai they will flog mastigoō you hymeis in en · ho their autos synagogues synagōgē; 18 and kai you will be brought agō before epi governors hēgemōn · de and kai kings basileus for my egō sake, as eis a testimony martyrion to them autos and kai to the ho Gentiles ethnos. 19 But de when hotan they hand paradidōmi you hymeis over , do not worry merimnaō about how pōs you are to speak or ē what tis you are to say laleō; for gar what tis you are to say laleō will be given didōmi to you hymeis at en that ekeinos · ho time hōra. 20 For gar it will eimi not ou be eimi you hymeis · ho speaking laleō but alla the ho Spirit pneuma of ho your hymeis Father patēr · ho speaking laleō through en you hymeis.

21  Brother adelphos will hand paradidōmi over · de brother adelphos to eis death thanatos, and kai a father patēr his child teknon, and kai children teknon will rise epanistēmi up against epi parents goneus and kai have them autos put to death thanatoō. 22 And kai you will be eimi hated miseō by hypo all pas on dia account of · ho my egō name onoma. But de the ho one who endures hypomenō to eis the end telos, this houtos one will be saved sōzō. 23 When hotan · de they persecute diōkō you hymeis in en · ho one houtos town polis, flee pheugō to eis · ho another heteros; for gar I tell legō you hymeis the truth amēn, you will not ou mē finish teleō going through all the ho towns polis of ho Israel Israēl before heōs an the ho Son hyios of ho Man anthrōpos comes erchomai.

24 “A disciple mathētēs is eimi not ou above hyper his ho teacher didaskalos, nor oude a servant above hyper · ho his autos master kyrios. 25 It is enough arketos for the ho disciple mathētēs that hina he be ginomai as hōs · ho his autos teacher didaskalos, and kai the ho servant as hōs · ho his autos master kyrios. If ei they have called epikaleō the ho head oikodespotēs of the house Beelzebul Beelzeboul,’ how posos much more mallon will they revile the ho members oikiakos of his autos household !

26  Therefore oun do not be afraid phobeomai of them autos; for gar there is eimi nothing oudeis covered kalyptō that hos will not ou be uncovered apokalyptō, and kai hidden kryptos that hos will not ou be made known ginōskō. 27 What hos I say legō to you hymeis in en the ho darkness skotia, speak legō in en the ho light phōs; and kai what hos you hear akouō in eis the ho ear ous proclaim kēryssō from epi the ho housetops dōma. 28 · kai Do not be afraid phobeomai of apo those ho who can kill apokteinō the ho body sōma but de cannot kill apokteinō the ho soul psychē. Rather de mallon, fear phobeomai the ho one who can dynamai destroy apollymi both kai soul psychē and kai body sōma in en hell geenna. 29 Are pōleō not ouchi two dyo sparrows strouthion sold pōleō for a penny assarion? Yet kai not ou one heis of ek them autos will fall piptō to epi the ho ground apart aneu from · ho your hymeis Father patēr. 30 But de even kai the ho hairs thrix of ho your hymeis head kephalē have all pas been eimi counted arithmeō. 31 So oun do not be afraid phobeomai; you hymeis are of greater value diapherō than many polys sparrows strouthion. 32 So oun everyone pas who hostis will acknowledge homologeō me egō before emprosthen · ho others anthrōpos, I kagō will acknowledge homologeō him autos before emprosthen · ho my egō Father patēr who ho is in en · ho heaven ouranos; 33 but de whoever hostis disowns arneomai me egō before emprosthen · ho others anthrōpos, I kagō will disown arneomai him autos before emprosthen · ho my egō Father patēr who ho is in en · ho heaven ouranos.

34  Do not think nomizō that hoti I have come erchomai to bring ballō peace eirēnē to epi the ho earth . I did not ou come erchomai to bring ballō peace eirēnē, but alla a sword machaira. 35 For gar I came erchomai to turn dichazō a man anthrōpos against kata · ho his autos father patēr, and kai a daughter thugatēr against kata · ho her autos mother mētēr, and kai a daughter-in-law nymphē against kata · ho her autos mother-in-law penthera; 36 and kai a man’ s anthrōpos enemies echthros · ho will be · ho members oikiakos of his autos own household. 37 Whoever ho loves phileō father patēr or ē mother mētēr more hyper than me egō is eimi not ou worthy axios of me egō, and kai whoever ho loves phileō son hyios or ē daughter thugatēr more hyper than me egō is eimi not ou worthy axios of me egō. 38 And kai whoever hos does not ou take lambanō up · ho his autos cross stauros and kai follow akoloutheō me egō is eimi not ou worthy axios of me egō. 39 Whoever ho finds heuriskō · ho his autos life psychē will lose apollymi it autos, but kai whoever ho loses apollymi · ho his autos life psychē for my egō sake will find heuriskō it autos.

40  Whoever ho receives dechomai you hymeis receives dechomai me egō, and kai whoever ho receives dechomai me egō receives dechomai the ho one who sent apostellō me egō. 41 Whoever ho welcomes dechomai a prophet prophētēs because eis he onoma is a prophet prophētēs will receive lambanō a prophet’ s prophētēs reward misthos, and kai whoever ho welcomes dechomai a righteous dikaios person because eis he onoma is a righteous dikaios person will receive lambanō a righteous person’ s dikaios reward misthos. 42 And kai whoever hos an, because eis he is onoma a disciple mathētēs, gives potizō one heis of ho these houtos little mikros ones even monon a cup potērion of cold psychros water to drink, I tell legō you hymeis the truth amēn, he will by no means ou lose apollymi · ho his autos reward misthos.”