(Mark 3:13–19; Luke 6:12–16)
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And calling His twelve disciples to Him, Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits, so that they could drive them out and heal every disease and sickness.
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These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
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Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
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Simon the Zealot,(a) and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.(b)
The Ministry of the Twelve
(Mark 6:7–13; Luke 9:1–6)
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These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go onto the road of the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.
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Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.
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As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’
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Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers,(c) drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
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Do not carry any gold or silver or copper in your belts.
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Take no bag for the road, or second tunic, or sandals, or staff; for the worker is worthy of his provisions.
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Whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy there and stay at his house (d) until you move on.
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As you enter the home, greet its occupants.(e)
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If the home is worthy, let your peace rest on it; but if it is not, let your peace return to you.
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And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.
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Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
Sheep among Wolves
(2 Timothy 1:3–12)
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Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
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But beware of men; for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues.
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On My account, you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.
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But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say.
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For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
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Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.
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You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
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When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
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A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
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It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul,(f) how much more the members of his household!
Fear God Alone
(Luke 12:4–7)
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So do not be afraid of them. For there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.
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What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops.
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Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.(g)
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Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?(h) Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.
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And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
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So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Confessing Christ
(Luke 12:8–12)
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Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven.
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But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven.
Not Peace but a Sword
(Micah 7:1–6; Luke 12:49–53)
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Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
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For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
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A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’(i)
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Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me;
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and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.
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Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
The Reward of Service
(2 Kings 4:8–17)
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He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives the One who sent Me.
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Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.
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And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”
Footnotes