Chapter XV

APOSTLES NAMED--WOES AND BLESSINGS--PRACTICAL LESSONS.

And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

And when it was day, he called _unto him_ his disciples; whom he would: and they came unto him. And of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils.

Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, (whom he also named Peter) and Andrew his brother; and James the _son_ of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew the publican; and Thomas, and James the _son_ of Alpheus, and Lebbeus, whose surname was Thaddeus: (The same with Judas the brother of James,) and Simon called Zelotes, (the Canaanite,) and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; and they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and he healed _them_ all. And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said,

Blessed _be ye_ poor: for your's is the kingdom of God.
Blessed _are ye_ that hunger now: for ye shall be filled.
Blessed _are ye_ that weep now: for ye shall laugh. Blessed
are ye when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate
you _from their company_, and shall reproach _you_, and cast
out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye
in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward _is_
great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto
the prophets.

But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your
consolation. Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger.
Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. Woe
unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did
their fathers to the false prophets.

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to
them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for
them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth
thee on the _one_ cheek, offer also the other; and him that
taketh away thy cloak forbid not _to take thy_ coat also.

Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh
away thy goods ask _them_ not again. And as ye would that men
should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love
them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love
those that love them.

And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank
have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend _to
them_ of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for
sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for
nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be
the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the
unthankful and _to_ the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as
your Father also is merciful.