Book of Common Prayer
The calling of the disciples
14 After John’s arrest, Jesus came into Galilee, announcing God’s good news.
15 “The time is fulfilled!” he said; “God’s kingdom is arriving! Turn back, and believe the good news!”
16 As he went along beside the sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were fishermen, and were casting nets into the sea.
17 “Follow me!” said Jesus to them. “I’ll have you fishing for people!”
18 Straight away they left their nets and followed him. 19 He went on a bit, and saw James, Zebedee’s son, and John his brother. They were in the boat mending their nets, 20 and he called them then and there. They left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went off after him.
Sheep among wolves
16 “See here,” Jesus continued, “I’m sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes, and as innocent as doves.
17 “Watch out for danger from people around you. They will hand you over to councils, and flog you in their synagogues. 18 You will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as evidence to them and to the nations. 19 But when they hand you over, don’t worry how to speak or what to say. What you have to say will be given to you at that moment. 20 It won’t be you speaking, you see; it will be the spirit of your father speaking in you.
21 “One brother will betray another to death; fathers will betray children, and children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who holds out to the end will be delivered.
23 “When they persecute you in one town, run off to the next one. I’m telling you the truth: you won’t have gone through all the towns of Israel before the son of man comes.”
Warnings and encouragements
24 “The disciple isn’t greater than the teacher; the slave isn’t greater than the master. 25 It’s quite enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave to be like the master. If they called the master of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ think what they’re going to call his family!
26 “Don’t be afraid of them. Nothing is hidden, you see, that won’t come to light; nothing is secret that won’t be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light, and what you hear whispered in your ears, announce from the roofs of the houses.
28 “Don’t be afraid of people who can kill the body, but can’t kill the soul. The one you should be afraid of is the one who can destroy both body and soul in Gehenna. 29 How much would you get for a couple of sparrows? A single copper coin if you’re lucky? And not one of them falls to the ground without your father knowing about it. 30 When it comes to you—why, every hair on your head is counted. 31 So don’t be afraid! You’re worth much more than a great many sparrows.”
Jesus causes division
32 “So: everyone who owns up in front of others to being on my side, I will own them before my father in heaven.
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.