Matthew 10:1-23

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

1 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
2 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;
3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.
6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.
7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’
8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy[a], drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
9 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts—
10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.
11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave.
12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting.
13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you.
14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.
15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues.
18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.
19 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,
20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.
22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Cross References 25

  • 1. Mark 3:13-15; Mark 6:7; Luke 4:36; Luke 9:1
  • 2. S Matthew 4:23
  • 3. Matthew 26:14-16,25,47; Matthew 27:3; Mark 14:10; John 6:71; John 12:4; John 13:2,26,27; Acts 1:16
  • 4. 1 Kings 16:24; 2 Kings 17:24; Luke 9:52; Luke 10:33; Luke 17:16; Jn 4:4-26,39,40; John 8:48; Acts 8:5,25
  • 5. Jeremiah 50:6; Matthew 15:24
  • 6. S Matthew 3:2
  • 7. Luke 22:35
  • 8. S 1 Timothy 5:18
  • 9. 1 Samuel 25:6
  • 10. Nehemiah 5:13; Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5; Luke 10:11; Acts 13:51; Acts 18:6
  • 11. Genesis 18:20; Genesis 19:24; 2 Peter 2:6; Jude 7
  • 12. Matthew 12:36; Acts 17:31; 2 Peter 2:9; 2 Peter 3:7; 1 John 4:17; Jude 6
  • 13. Matthew 11:22,24
  • 14. Luke 10:3; Acts 20:29
  • 15. S 1 Corinthians 14:20; Romans 16:19
  • 16. S Matthew 5:22
  • 17. Matthew 23:34; Mark 13:9; Acts 5:40; Acts 22:19; Acts 26:11
  • 18. Acts 25:24-26
  • 19. Exodus 4:12
  • 20. Luke 12:11,12; Acts 4:8
  • 21. ver 35,36; Micah 7:6
  • 22. Mark 13:12
  • 23. S John 15:21
  • 24. Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13; Luke 21:19; Revelation 2:10
  • 25. S Luke 17:30

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. The Greek word traditionally translated "leprosy" was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
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