The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Laborers Few

^35 (A)And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. ^36 (B)When he saw the crowds, ^(C)he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, ^(D)like sheep without a shepherd. ^37 (E)Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; ³⁸ therefore ^(F)pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to ^(G)send out laborers into his harvest.”

^8 (A)Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers,^[a] cast out demons. ^(B)You received without paying; give without pay. ^9 (C)Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, ¹⁰ no bag for your journey, or two tunics^[b] or sandals or a staff, for ^(D)the laborer deserves his food. ¹¹ And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. ¹² As you enter the house, ^(E)greet it. ¹³ And if the house is ^(F)worthy, let ^(G)your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let ^(H)your peace return to you. ¹⁴ And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, ^(I)shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. ¹⁵ Truly, I say to you, ^(J)it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for ^(K)the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

Persecution Will Come

^16 (L)“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be ^(M)wise as serpents and ^(N)innocent as doves. ¹⁷ Beware of men, for ^(O)they will deliver you over to courts and flog you ^(P)in their synagogues, ^18 (Q)and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, ^(R)to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. ^19 (S)When ^(T)they deliver you over, ^(U)do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for ^(V)what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. ^20 (W)For it is not you who speak, but ^(X)the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.