Matthew 10:5-20

New American Standard Bible

^5 (A)These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them, saying, “Do not go on a road ^[a]to Gentiles, and do not enter a city of ^(B)Samaritans; ⁶ but rather go to ^(C)the lost sheep of the house of Israel. ⁷ And as you go, ^[b]preach, saying, ‘^(D)The kingdom of heaven ^[c]has come near.’ ⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. ^9 (E)Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, ¹⁰ or a ^[d]bag for your journey, or even two ^[e]tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for ^(F)the worker is deserving of his ^[f]support. ¹¹ And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay ^[g]at his house until you leave that city. ¹² As you enter the ^[h]house, ^(G)give it your ^[i]greeting. ¹³ If the house is worthy, see that your blessing of peace comes upon it. But if it is not worthy, ^[j]take back your blessing of peace. ¹⁴ And whoever does not receive you nor listen to your words, as you leave that house or city, ^(H)shake the dust off your feet. ¹⁵ Truly I say to you, ^(I)it will be more tolerable for the land of ^(J)Sodom and Gomorrah on ^(K)the day of judgment, than for that city.

A Hard Road Ahead of Them

¹⁶ “^(L)Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as ^(M)wary as serpents, and as ^(N)innocent as doves. ¹⁷ But be on guard against people, for they will hand you over to the ^(O)courts and flog you ^(P)in their synagogues; ¹⁸ and you will even be brought before governors and kings on My account, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. ^19 (Q)But when they hand you over, ^(R)do not worry about how or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given you in that hour. ²⁰ For ^(S)it is not you who are speaking, but it is the Spirit of your Father who is speaking ^[k]in you.