Luke 6:12-22

Jesus Chooses the Twelve Apostles

12 On one of those days, Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray. He spent the night praying to God.

13 When morning came, he called for his disciples to come to him. He chose 12 of them and made them apostles.

14 Simon was one of them. Jesus gave him the name Peter. There were also Simon's brother Andrew, James, John, Philip and Bartholomew.

15 And there were Matthew, Thomas, and James, son of Alphaeus. There were also Simon who was called the Zealot

16 and Judas, son of James. Judas Iscariot was one of them too. He was the one who would later hand Jesus over to his enemies.

Jesus Gives Blessings and Warnings

17 Jesus went down the mountain with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there. A large number of other people were there too. They came from all over Judea, including Jerusalem. They also came from the coast of Tyre and Sidon.

18 They had all come to hear Jesus and to be healed of their sicknesses. People who were troubled by evil spirits were made well.

19 Everyone tried to touch Jesus. Power was coming from him and healing them all.

20 Jesus looked at his disciples. He said to them, "Blessed are you who are needy. God's kingdom belongs to you.

21 Blessed are you who are hungry now. You will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are sad now. You will laugh.

22 Blessed are you when people hate you, when they have nothing to do with you and say bad things about you, and when they treat your name as something evil.