Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Jesus Instructs The Twelve On Where To Go, What To Say, What To Do, How To Live

⁵ Jesus sent out these twelve, having instructed^[a] them, saying— “Do not go into the path of Gentiles, and do not enter into a city of Samaritans. ⁶ But be proceeding instead to the lost^[b] sheep of the house of Israel. ⁷ And while proceeding, be proclaiming, saying that ‘The kingdom of the heavens has drawn near’. ⁸ Be curing ones being sick, raising dead ones, cleansing lepers, casting out demons. You received freely— give freely. ⁹ Do not acquire^[c] gold nor silver nor copper [money] for your [money] belts— ¹⁰ not a [traveler’s] bag for the journey, nor two^[d] tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff. For the worker is worthy of his food. ¹¹ And into whatever city or village you enter, search-out^[e] who is worthy in it, and stay there until you go forth. ¹² And while entering into the house, greet^[f] it. ¹³ And if the house is worthy let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy let your peace return to you. ¹⁴ And whoever does not welcome you nor listen-to your words— shake-out the dust from your feet while going outside of that house or city. ¹⁵ Truly I say to you, it will be more-tolerable^[g] for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that city.

Jesus Pre-Warns The Twelve About The Persecution They Will Face In The Future

¹⁶ “Behold— I am sending^[h] you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be shrewd^[i] as the snakes, and innocent^[j] as the doves. ¹⁷ And beware of people. For they will hand you over to councils^[k] and whip you in their synagogues. ¹⁸ And you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake— for a testimony to them^[l] and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹ But whenever they hand you over, do not be anxious-about how or what you should speak. For what you should speak will be given to you in that hour. ²⁰ For you are not the ones speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is the One speaking in you. ²¹ And brother will hand-over brother to death, and a father his child. And children will rise-up-in-rebellion^[m] against parents and they will put them to death. ²² And you will be being hated by all because of My name. But the one having endured to the end^[n], this one will be saved. ²³ But whenever they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For truly I say to you— you will by no means finish the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes^[o].