¹⁵ Moses said to the Lord, ¹⁶ “May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all living things,^(A) appoint someone over this community ¹⁷ to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”^(B)

¹⁸ So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership,^[a](C) and lay your hand on him.^{(D) 19} Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him^(E) in their presence.^{(F) 20} Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him.^{(G) 21} He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring^(H) of the Urim^(I) before the Lord. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.”

²² Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly. ²³ Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him,^(J) as the Lord instructed through Moses.

The Workers Are Few

³⁵ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.^{(A) 36} When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them,^(B) because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.^{(C) 37} Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest^(D) is plentiful but the workers are few.^{(E) 38} Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve^{(F)(G)(H)(I)(J)}

10 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits^(K) and to heal every disease and sickness.^(L)

² These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; ⁴ Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.^(M)

⁵ These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.^{(N) 6} Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.^{(O) 7} As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven^(P) has come near.’ ⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,^[a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

⁹ “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts^(Q)— ¹⁰ no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.^{(R) 11} Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. ¹² As you enter the home, give it your greeting.^{(S) 13} If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. ¹⁴ If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.^{(T) 15} Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah^(U) on the day of judgment^(V) than for that town.^(W)

¹⁶ “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.^(X) Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.^{(Y) 17} Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils^(Z) and be flogged in the synagogues.^{(AA) 18} On my account you will be brought before governors and kings^(AB) as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹ But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it.^(AC) At that time you will be given what to say, ²⁰ for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father^(AD) speaking through you.

The Year of the Lord’s Favor

Thanksgiving

³ I thank God,^(A) whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience,^(B) as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.^{(C) 4} Recalling your tears,^(D) I long to see you,^(E) so that I may be filled with joy. ⁵ I am reminded of your sincere faith,^(F) which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice^(G) and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

Appeal for Loyalty to Paul and the Gospel

⁶ For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.^{(H) 7} For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid,^(I) but gives us power,^(J) love and self-discipline. ⁸ So do not be ashamed^(K) of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner.^(L) Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel,^(M) by the power of God. ⁹ He has saved^(N) us and called^(O) us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done^(P) but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, ¹⁰ but it has now been revealed^(Q) through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus,^(R) who has destroyed death^(S) and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. ¹¹ And of this gospel^(T) I was appointed^(U) a herald and an apostle and a teacher.^{(V) 12} That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame,^(W) because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard^(X) what I have entrusted to him until that day.^(Y)

¹³ What you heard from me,^(Z) keep^(AA) as the pattern^(AB) of sound teaching,^(AC) with faith and love in Christ Jesus.^{(AD) 14} Guard^(AE) the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.^(AF)