10:1  AND JESUS summoned to Him His twelve disciples and gave them power {and} authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out, and to cure all kinds of disease and all kinds of weakness {and} infirmity.

10:2  Now these are the names of the twelve apostles (special messengers): first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

10:3  Philip and Bartholomew [Nathaniel]; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus [Judas, not Iscariot];

10:4  Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

10:5  Jesus sent out these twelve, charging them, Go nowhere among the Gentiles and do not go into any town of the Samaritans;

10:6  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

10:7  And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand!

10:8  Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely (without pay) you have received, freely (without charge) give.

10:9  Take no gold nor silver nor [even] copper money in your purses (belts);

10:10  And do not take a provision bag {or} a wallet for a collection bag for your journey, nor two undergarments, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the workman deserves his support (his living, his food).

10:11  And into whatever town or village you go, inquire who in it is deserving, and stay there [at his house] until you leave [that vicinity].

10:12  As you go into the house, give your greetings {and} wish it well.

10:13  Then if indeed that house is deserving, let come upon it your peace [that is, freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin]. But if it is not deserving, let your peace return to you.

10:14  And whoever will not receive {and} accept {and} welcome you nor listen to your message, as you leave that house or town, shake the dust [of it] from your feet.

10:15  Truly I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

10:16  Behold, I am sending you out like sheep in the midst of wolves; be wary {and} wise as serpents, and be innocent (harmless, guileless, and without falsity) as doves.

10:17  Be on guard against men [whose way or nature is to act in opposition to God]; for they will deliver you up to councils and flog you in their synagogues,

10:18  And you will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a witness to bear testimony before them and to the Gentiles (the nations).

10:19  But when they deliver you up, do not be anxious about how {or} what you are to speak; for what you are to say will be given you in that very hour {and} moment,

10:20  For it is not you who are speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

10:21  Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child; and children will take a stand against their parents and will have them put to death.

10:22  And you will be hated by all for My name's sake, but he who perseveres {and} endures to the end will be saved [from spiritual disease and death in the world to come].

10:23  When they persecute you in one town [that is, pursue you in a manner that would injure you and cause you to suffer because of your belief], flee to another town; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

10:24  A disciple is not above his teacher, nor is a servant {or} slave above his master.

10:25  It is sufficient for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant {or} slave like his master. If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub [master of the dwelling], how much more will they speak evil of those of His household. [II Kings 1:2.]

10:26  So have no fear of them; for nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, or kept secret that will not become known.

10:27  What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim upon the housetops.

10:28  And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather be afraid of Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Gehenna).

10:29  Are not two little sparrows sold for a penny? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's leave (consent) {and} notice.

10:30  But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

10:31  Fear not, then; you are of more value than many sparrows.

10:32  Therefore, everyone who acknowledges Me before men {and} confesses Me [out of a state of oneness with Me], I will also acknowledge him before My Father Who is in heaven {and} confess [that I am abiding in] him.

10:33  But whoever denies {and} disowns Me before men, I also will deny {and} disown him before My Father Who is in heaven.

10:34  Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

10:35  For I have come to part asunder a man from his father, and a daughter from her mother, and a newly married wife from her mother-in-law--

10:36  And a man's foes will be they of his own household.

10:37  He who loves [and takes more pleasure in] father or mother more than [in] Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves [and takes more pleasure in] son or daughter more than [in] Me is not worthy of Me;

10:38  And he who does not take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conforming wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also] is not worthy of Me.

10:39  Whoever finds his [lower] life will lose it [the higher life], and whoever loses his [lower] life on My account will find it [the higher life].

10:40  He who receives {and} welcomes {and} accepts you receives {and} welcomes {and} accepts Me, and he who receives {and} welcomes {and} accepts Me receives {and} welcomes {and} accepts Him Who sent Me.

10:41  He who receives {and} welcomes {and} accepts a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward, and he who receives {and} welcomes {and} accepts a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.

10:42  And whoever gives to one of these little ones [in rank or influence] even a cup of cold water because he is My disciple, surely I declare to you, he shall not lose his reward.