Matthew 10

The AIT Bible

The Twelve Apostles

1And summoning his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out and to heal every disease and every affliction.

2Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;

4Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

5These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Do not go on the road to the Gentiles, and do not enter any town of the Samaritans.

6Instead, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

7And as you go, proclaim, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven has drawn near.’

8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay.

9Do not acquire gold or silver or copper for your money belts,

10or a bag for the journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff—for the worker is worthy of his food.

11Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave.

12As you enter the house, greet it.

13If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.

14And if anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, as you leave that house or town, shake the dust off your feet.

15Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

Persecution Will Come

16Look, I am sending you out like sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.

17Beware of people, for they will hand you over to local councils and flog you in their synagogues.

18You will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.

19When they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.

20For it is not you who will be speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking in you.

21Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise up against their parents and have them put to death.

22You will be hated by everyone on account of my name, but the one who endures to the end will be saved.

23When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. For truly I tell you, you will not have finished going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

24A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his lord.

25It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher, and a slave like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household!

Whom to Fear

26So do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be made known.

27What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops.

28Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, fear him who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

29Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.

30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

31So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

32Therefore, everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge him before my Father who is in heaven.

33But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny him before my Father who is in heaven.

Not Peace, but a Sword

34Do not think that I came to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

35For I came to turn a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

36and a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.

37He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

38And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

39The one who finds his life will lose it, and the one who loses his life for my sake will find it.

Rewards for Welcoming Disciples

40The one who receives you receives me, and the one who receives me receives the one who sent me.

41The one who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.

42And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

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