Chapter XXIII

REVISITS NAZARETH--SENDS OUT THE TWELVE WITH INSTRUCTIONS.

And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. And when he was come into his own country, and when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing _him_ were astonished, saying, From whence hath this _man_ these things? And what wisdom _is_ this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? Is not this the carpenter? (the carpenter's son?) Is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this _man_ all these things? And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them,

A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country,
and among his own kin, and in his own house.

And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed _them_. And he marvelled because of their unbelief.

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples,

The harvest truly _is_ plenteous, but the laborers _are_ few;
pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send
forth laborers into his harvest.

And when he had called unto _him_ his twelve disciples, he gave them power and authority over all devils, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. And he sent them forth by two and two: to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. These twelve, Jesus sent forth, and commanded them saying,

Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into _any_ city of
the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep
of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The
kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the
lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have
received, freely give.

And he said unto them,

Take nothing for _your_ journey, save a staff only; provide
neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip
for _your_ journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, but _be_
shod with sandals; for the workman is worthy of his meat.

And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who
in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. And when
ye come into an house, salute it. And if the house be worthy,
let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your
peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor
hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city,
shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against
them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for
the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than
for that city.

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be
ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But
beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils,
and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and ye shall be
brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a
testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver
you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it
shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For
it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which
speaketh in you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother
to death, and the father the child: and the children shall
rise up against _their_ parents, and cause them to be put to
death. And ye shall be hated of all _men_ for my name's sake:
but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into
another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone
over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

The disciple is not above _his_ master, nor the servant above
his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his
master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the
master of the house Beelzebub, how much more _shall they call_
them of his household?

Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered that
shall not be revealed; and hid that shall not be known. What
I tell you in darkness _that_ speak ye in light: and what ye
hear in the ear, _that_ preach ye upon the house-tops.

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to
kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy
both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a
farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without
your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many
sparrows.

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I
confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But
whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny
before my Father which is in heaven.

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to
send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at
variance against his father, and the daughter against her
mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And
a man's foes _shall be_ they of his own household. He that
loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and
he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of
me. And he that taketh not his cross and followeth after me,
is not worthy of me.

He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his
life for my sake shall find it. He that receiveth you
receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent
me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall
receive a prophet's reward: and he that receiveth a righteous
man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous
man's reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of
these little ones a cup of cold _water_ only in the name of a
disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his
reward.

And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, that men should repent. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed _them_.