GOD'S WORD Translation GW
New King James Version NKJV
1 Jesus called his twelve disciples and gave them authority to force evil spirits out of people and to cure every disease and sickness.
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And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first and foremost, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James and his brother John, the sons of Zebedee;
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Now 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;
3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James (son of Alphaeus), and Thaddaeus;
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Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus.
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Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
5 Jesus sent these twelve out with the following instructions: "Don't go among people who are not Jewish or into any Samaritan city.
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These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.
6 Instead, go to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel.
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But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 As you go, spread this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.'
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And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
8 Cure the sick, bring the dead back to life, cleanse those with skin diseases, and force demons out of people. Give these things without charging, since you received them without paying.
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Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
9 "Don't take any gold, silver, or even copper coins in your pockets.
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Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts,
10 Don't take a traveling bag for the trip, a change of clothes, sandals, or a walking stick. After all, the worker deserves to have his needs met.
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nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.
11 "When you go into a city or village, look for people who will listen to you there. Stay with them until you leave [that place].
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Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out.
12 When you go into a house, greet the family.
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And when you go into a household, greet it.
13 If it is a family that listens to you, allow your greeting to stand. But if it is not receptive, take back your greeting.
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If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 If anyone doesn't welcome you or listen to what you say, leave that house or city, and shake its dust off your feet.
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And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.
15 I can guarantee this truth: Judgment day will be better for Sodom and Gomorrah than for that city.
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Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!
16 "I'm sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as snakes but as innocent as doves.
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"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
17 Watch out for people who will hand you over to the Jewish courts and whip you in their synagogues.
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But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.
18 Because of me you will even be brought in front of governors and kings to testify to them and to everyone in the world.
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You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
19 When they hand you over [to the authorities], don't worry about what to say or how to say it. When the time comes, you will be given what to say.
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But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;
20 Indeed, you're not the ones who will be speaking. The Spirit of your Father will be speaking through you.
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for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
21 "Brother will hand over brother to death; a father will hand over his child. Children will rebel against their parents and kill them.
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Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
22 Everyone will hate you because you are committed to me. But the person who patiently endures to the end will be saved.
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And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
23 So when they persecute you in one city, flee to another. I can guarantee this truth: Before you have gone through every city in Israel, the Son of Man will come.
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When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
24 "A student is not better than his teacher. Nor is a slave better than his owner.
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A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
25 It is enough for a student to become like his teacher and a slave like his owner. If they have called the owner of the house Beelzebul, they will certainly call the family members the same name.
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It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!
26 So don't be afraid of them. Nothing has been covered that will not be exposed. Whatever is secret will be made known.
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Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.
27 Tell in the daylight what I say to you in the dark. Shout from the housetops what you hear whispered.
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"Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.
28 Don't be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell.
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And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
29 "Aren't two sparrows sold for a penny? Not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's permission.
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Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will.
30 Every hair on your head has been counted.
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But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Don't be afraid! You are worth more than many sparrows.
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Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
32 "So I will acknowledge in front of my Father in heaven that person who acknowledges me in front of others.
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"Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
33 But I will tell my Father in heaven that I don't know the person who tells others that he doesn't know me.
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But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
34 "Don't think that I came to bring peace to earth. I didn't come to bring peace but conflict.
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"Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
35 I came 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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For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law';
36 A person's enemies will be the members of his own family.
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and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.'
37 "The person who loves his father or mother more than me does not deserve to be my disciple. The person who loves a son or daughter more than me does not deserve to be my disciple.
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He 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.
38 Whoever doesn't take up his cross and follow me doesn't deserve to be my disciple.
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And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
39 The person who tries to preserve his life will lose it, but the person who loses his life for me will preserve it.
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He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
40 "The person who welcomes you welcomes me, and the person who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.
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"He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.
41 The person who welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet's reward. The person who welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward.
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He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
42 I can guarantee this truth: Whoever gives any of my humble followers a cup of cold water because that person is my disciple will certainly never lose his reward."
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And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.