The Lord Has Chosen Zion

A Song of ^(A)Ascents.

When Brothers Dwell in Unity

A Song of ^(A)Ascents. Of David.

¹⁵ In those days Peter stood up among ^(A)the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, ¹⁶ “Brothers, ^(B)the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, ^(C)who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. ¹⁷ For ^(D)he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in ^(E)this ministry.” ¹⁸ (Now this man ^(F)acquired a field with ^(G)the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong^[a] he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. ¹⁹ And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called ^(H)in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) ²⁰ “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,

and

²¹ So one of the men who have accompanied us during ^(K)all the time that the Lord Jesus ^(L)went in and out among us, ^22 (M)beginning from the baptism of John until the day when ^(N)he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us ^(O)a witness to his resurrection.” ²³ And they put forward two, Joseph called ^(P)Barsabbas, who was also called ^(Q)Justus, and ^(R)Matthias. ²⁴ And ^(S)they prayed and said, “You, Lord, ^(T)who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen ²⁵ to take the place in ^(U)this ministry and ^(V)apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” ²⁶ And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

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.”

The Twelve Apostles

10 ^(H)And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. ^2 (I)The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, ^(J)who is called Peter, and ^(K)Andrew his brother; ^(L)James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and ^(M)Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;^{[a] 4} Simon the Zealot,^[b] and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

^5 (N)These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of ^(O)the Samaritans, ^6 (P)but go rather to ^(Q)the lost sheep of ^(R)the house of Israel. ⁷ And proclaim as you go, saying, ^(S)‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’^{[c] 8 (T)}Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers,^[d] cast out demons. ^(U)You received without paying; give without pay. ^9 (V)Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, ¹⁰ no bag for your journey, or two tunics^[e] or sandals or a staff, for ^(W)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, ^(X)greet it. ¹³ And if the house is ^(Y)worthy, let ^(Z)your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let ^(AA)your peace return to you. ¹⁴ And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, ^(AB)shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. ¹⁵ Truly, I say to you, ^(AC)it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for ^(AD)the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

Persecution Will Come

^16 (AE)“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be ^(AF)wise as serpents and ^(AG)innocent as doves. ¹⁷ Beware of men, for ^(AH)they will deliver you over to courts and flog you ^(AI)in their synagogues, ^18 (AJ)and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, ^(AK)to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. ^19 (AL)When ^(AM)they deliver you over, ^(AN)do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for ^(AO)what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. ^20 (AP)For it is not you who speak, but ^(AQ)the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. ^21 (AR)Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, ^22 (AS)and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. ^(AT)But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ²³ When they ^(AU)persecute you in one town, ^(AV)flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel ^(AW)before the Son of Man comes.