Matthew 10
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He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil [1] spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
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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;
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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 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
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These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among 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 those who have leprosy, [2] drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
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Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts;
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take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.
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"Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave.
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As you enter the home, give it your greeting.
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If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you.
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If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.
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I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
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I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
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"Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local 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 arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time 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 rebel against their parents and have them put to death.
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All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
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When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
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"A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
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It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, [3] how much more the members of his household!
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"So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or 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 roofs.
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Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
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Are not two sparrows sold for a penny [4] ? 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 don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
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"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.
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But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.
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"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did 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.' [5]
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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 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.
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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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Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who 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, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."
  1. [1] Greek unclean
  2. [8] The Greek word was used for various diseases affecting the skin--not necessarily leprosy.
  3. [25] Greek Beezeboul or Beelzeboul
  4. [29] Greek an assarion
  5. [36] Micah 7:6