New Revised Standard NRS
The Message Bible MSG
1 Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases,
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Jesus now called the Twelve and gave them authority and power to deal with all the demons and cure diseases.
2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
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He commissioned them to preach the news of God's kingdom and heal the sick.
3 He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money—not even an extra tunic.
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He said, "Don't load yourselves up with equipment.
4 Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there.
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Keep it simple; you are the equipment. And no luxury inns - get a modest place and be content there until you leave.
5 Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them."
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If you're not welcomed, leave town. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and move on."
6 They departed and went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere.
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Commissioned, they left. They traveled from town to town telling the latest news of God, the Message, and curing people everywhere they went.
7 Now Herod the ruler heard about all that had taken place, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead,
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Herod, the ruler, heard of these goings on and didn't know what to think. There were people saying John had come back from the dead,
8 by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the ancient prophets had arisen.
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others that Elijah had appeared, still others that some prophet of long ago had shown up.
9 Herod said, "John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?" And he tried to see him.
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Herod said, "But I killed John - took off his head. So who is this that I keep hearing about?" Curious, he looked for a chance to see him in action.
10 On their return the apostles told Jesus all they had done. He took them with him and withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida.
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The apostles returned and reported on what they had done. Jesus took them away, off by themselves, near the town called Bethsaida.
11 When the crowds found out about it, they followed him; and he welcomed them, and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed to be cured.
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But the crowds got wind of it and followed. Jesus graciously welcomed them and talked to them about the kingdom of God. Those who needed healing, he healed.
12 The day was drawing to a close, and the twelve came to him and said, "Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place."
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As the day declined, the Twelve said, "Dismiss the crowd so they can go to the farms or villages around here and get a room for the night and a bite to eat. We're out in the middle of nowhere."
13 But he said to them, "You give them something to eat." They said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people."
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"You feed them," Jesus said.
14 For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, "Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each."
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(There were more than five thousand people in the crowd.)
15 They did so and made them all sit down.
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They did what he said, and soon had everyone seated.
16 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.
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He took the five loaves and two fish, lifted his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread and fish to the disciples to hand out to the crowd.
17 And all ate and were filled. What was left over was gathered up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.
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After the people had all eaten their fill, twelve baskets of leftovers were gathered up.
18 Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?"
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One time when Jesus was off praying by himself, his disciples nearby, he asked them, "What are the crowds saying about me, about who I am?"
19 They answered, "John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen."
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They said, "John the Baptizer. Others say Elijah. Still others say that one of the prophets from long ago has come back."
20 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "The Messiah of God."
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He then asked, "And you - what are you saying about me? Who am I?" Peter answered, "The Messiah of God."
21 He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone,
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Jesus then warned them to keep it quiet. They were to tell no one what Peter had said.
22 saying, "The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised."
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He went on, "It is necessary that the Son of Man proceed to an ordeal of suffering, be tried and found guilty by the religious leaders, high priests, and religion scholars, be killed, and on the third day be raised up alive."
23 Then he said to them all, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
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Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat - I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how.
24 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.
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Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self.
25 What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves?
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What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you?
26 Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
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If any of you is embarrassed with me and the way I'm leading you, know that the Son of Man will be far more embarrassed with you when he arrives in all his splendor in company with the Father and the holy angels. This isn't, you realize, pie in the sky by and by.
27 But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God."
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Some who have taken their stand right here are going to see it happen, see with their own eyes the kingdom of God."
28 Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.
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About eight days after saying this, he climbed the mountain to pray, taking Peter, John, and James along.
29 And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white.
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While he was in prayer, the appearance of his face changed and his clothes became blinding white.
30 Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him.
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At once two men were there talking with him. They turned out to be Moses and Elijah -
31 They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
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and what a glorious appearance they made! They talked over his exodus, the one Jesus was about to complete in Jerusalem.
32 Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.
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Meanwhile, Peter and those with him were slumped over in sleep. When they came to, rubbing their eyes, they saw Jesus in his glory and the two men standing with him.
33 Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"—not knowing what he said.
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When Moses and Elijah had left, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, this is a great moment! Let's build three memorials: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He blurted this out without thinking.
34 While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud.
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While he was babbling on like this, a light-radiant cloud enveloped them. As they found themselves buried in the cloud, they became deeply aware of God.
35 Then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!"
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Then there was a voice out of the cloud: "This is my Son, the Chosen! Listen to him."
36 When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
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When the sound of the voice died away, they saw Jesus there alone. They were speechless. And they continued speechless, said not one thing to anyone during those days of what they had seen.
37 On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him.
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When they came down off the mountain the next day, a big crowd was there to meet them.
38 Just then a man from the crowd shouted, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child.
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A man called from out of the crowd, "Please, please, Teacher, take a look at my son. He's my only child.
39 Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him.
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Often a spirit seizes him. Suddenly he's screaming, thrown into convulsions, his mouth foaming. And then it beats him black and blue before it leaves.
40 I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not."
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I asked your disciples to deliver him but they couldn't."
41 Jesus answered, "You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here."
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Jesus said, "What a generation! No sense of God! No focus to your lives! How many times do I have to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this? Bring your son here."
42 While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.
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While he was coming, the demon slammed him to the ground and threw him into convulsions. Jesus stepped in, ordered the vile spirit gone, healed the boy, and handed him back to his father.
43 And all were astounded at the greatness of God. While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples,
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They all shook their heads in wonder, astonished at God's greatness, God's majestic greatness.
44 "Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands."
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"Treasure and ponder each of these next words: The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into human hands."
45 But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
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They didn't get what he was saying. It was like he was speaking a foreign language and they couldn't make heads or tails of it. But they were embarrassed to ask him what he meant.
46 An argument arose among them as to which one of them was the greatest.
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They started arguing over which of them would be most famous.
47 But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a little child and put it by his side,
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When Jesus realized how much this mattered to them, he brought a child to his side.
48 and said to them, "Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest."
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"Whoever accepts this child as if the child were me, accepts me," he said. "And whoever accepts me, accepts the One who sent me. You become great by accepting, not asserting. Your spirit, not your size, makes the difference."
49 John answered, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us."
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John spoke up, "Master, we saw a man using your name to expel demons and we stopped him because he wasn't of our group."
50 But Jesus said to him, "Do not stop him; for whoever is not against you is for you."
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Jesus said, "Don't stop him. If he's not an enemy, he's an ally."
51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
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When it came close to the time for his Ascension, he gathered up his courage and steeled himself for the journey to Jerusalem.
52 And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him;
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He sent messengers on ahead. They came to a Samaritan village to make arrangements for his hospitality.
53 but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.
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But when the Samaritans learned that his destination was Jerusalem, they refused hospitality.
54 When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?"
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When the disciples James and John learned of it, they said, "Master, do you want us to call a bolt of lightning down out of the sky and incinerate them?"
55 But he turned and rebuked them.
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Jesus turned on them: "Of course not!"
56 Then they went on to another village.
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And they traveled on to another village.
57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
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On the road someone asked if he could go along. "I'll go with you, wherever," he said.
58 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."
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Jesus was curt: "Are you ready to rough it? We're not staying in the best inns, you know."
59 To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
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Jesus said to another, "Follow me." He said, "Certainly, but first excuse me for a couple of days, please. I have to make arrangements for my father's funeral."
60 But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
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Jesus refused. "First things first. Your business is life, not death. And life is urgent: Announce God's kingdom!"
61 Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home."
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Then another said, "I'm ready to follow you, Master, but first excuse me while I get things straightened out at home."
62 Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
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Jesus said, "No procrastination. No backward looks. You can't put God's kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day."
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.