9:1  And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases.

9:2  And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing.

9:3  And He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have two tunics apiece.

9:4  "Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that city.

9:5  "And as for those who do not receive you, as you go out from that city, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them."

9:6  Departing, they began going throughout the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

9:7  Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that had happened; and he became greatly perplexed, because some had said that John had risen from the dead,

9:8  and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen again.

9:9  Herod said, "I myself had John beheaded; but what man do we see about whom I hear such things?" And he kept trying to see Him.

9:10  When the apostles returned, they gave an account to Him of all that they had done. Taking them with Him, He withdrew by Himself to a city called Bethsaida.

9:11  But the crowds became aware of this and followed Him; and welcoming them, He began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing.

9:12  Now the day had ended, and the twelve came and said to Him, "Send the crowd away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging and get something to eat; for here find a desolate place."

9:13  But He said to them, "You give them something to eat!" And they said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless perhaps we go and buy food for all these people."

9:14  (For there numbered about five thousand men.) And He said to His disciples, "Have them sit down to eat in groups of about fifty each."

9:15  They did so, and had them all sit down.

9:16  Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and broke them, and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the people.

9:17  And they all ate and became satisfied; and when they picked up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces which they had left over, they had twelve baskets full.

9:18  And it happened that while He prayed alone, the disciples accompanied Him, and He questioned them, saying, "How do the people identify me?"

9:19  They answered and said, "John the Baptist, and others say Elijah; but others, that one of the prophets of old has risen again."

9:20  And He said to them, "But how do you identify me?" And Peter answered and said, "The Christ of God."

9:21  But He warned them and instructed them not to tell this to anyone,

9:22  saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and the elders and chief priests and scribes will reject Him and by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and become killed and raised up on the third day."

9:23  And He said to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

9:24  "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he will save it.

9:25  "For does a man profit if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?

9:26  "For whoever feels ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will feel ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

9:27  "But I say to you truthfully, some of those standing here will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God."

9:28  Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.

9:29  And while He prayed, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming.

9:30  And behold, two men talked with Him; and they appeared as Moses and Elijah,

9:31  who, appearing in glory, spoke of His departure which He intended to accomplish at Jerusalem.

9:32  Now Peter and his companions had become overcome with sleep; but when they became fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him.

9:33  And as these left Him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, we feel good to stand here; let us make three tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah"--not realizing what he said.

9:34  While he said this, a cloud formed and began to overshadow them; and they felt afraid as they entered the cloud.

9:35  Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "You see My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!"

9:36  And when the voice had spoken, Jesus found Himself alone. And they kept silent, and reported to no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.

9:37  On the next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Him.

9:38  And a man from the crowd shouted, said, "Teacher, I beg You to look at my only son.

9:39  and a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly screams, and it throws him into a convulsion with foaming at the mouth; and only with difficulty does it leave him, mauling him as it leaves.

9:40  "I begged Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not."

9:41  And Jesus answered and said, "You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I remain with you and put up with you? Bring your son here."

9:42  While he still approached, the demon slammed him to the ground and threw him into a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy and gave him back to his father.

9:43  And they felt all amazed at the greatness of God. But while everyone marvelled at all that He did, He said to His disciples,

9:44  "Let these words sink into your ears; for treacherous people will deliver the Son of Man into the hands of men."

9:45  But they did not understand this statement, and He concealed it from them so that they would not perceive it; and they feared to ask Him about this statement.

9:46  An argument started among them as to which of them might have the greatest position.

9:47  But Jesus, knowing what they thought in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side,

9:48  and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for the one who considers himself least among all of you, this one we will consider great."

9:49  John answered and said, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us."

9:50  But Jesus said to him, "Do not hinder him; for he who does not oppose you supports you."

9:51  When the days approached for His ascension, He determined to go to Jerusalem;

9:52  and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him.

9:53  But they did not receive Him, because He travelled toward Jerusalem.

9:54  When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?"

9:55  But He turned and rebuked them, [and said, "You do not know what kind of spirit you have;

9:56  for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them."] And they went on to another village.

9:57  As they went along the road, someone said to Him, "I will follow You wherever You go."

9:58  And Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."

9:59  And He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father."

9:60  But He said to him, "Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God."

9:61  Another also said, "I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home."

9:62  But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, can consider himself fit for the kingdom of God."