9:1 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,
9:2 and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
9:3 He told them: “Take nothing for the journey–no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic.
9:4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town.
9:5 If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them.”
9:6 So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.
9:7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed, because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead,
9:8 others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life.
9:9 But Herod said, “I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” And he tried to see him.
9:10 When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida,
9:11 but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.
9:12 Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.”
9:13 He replied, “You give them something to eat.” They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish–unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.”
9:14 (About five thousand men were there.) But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”
9:15 The disciples did so, and everybody sat down.
9:16 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to set before the people.
9:17 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
9:18 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”
9:19 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”
9:20 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”
9:21 Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone.
9:22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”
9:23 Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
9:24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.
9:25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?
9:26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
9:27 I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”
9:28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.
9:29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.
9:30 Two men, Moses and Elijah,
9:31 appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.
9:32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
9:33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters–one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)
9:34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.
9:35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”
9:36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.
9:37 The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him.
9:38 A man in the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child.
9:39 A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him.
9:40 I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.”
9:41 “O unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”
9:42 Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father.
9:43 And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples,
9:44 “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.”
9:45 But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.
9:46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.
9:47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him.
9:48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all–he is the greatest.”
9:49 “Master,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.”
9:50 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”
9:51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.
9:52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him;
9:53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.
9:54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?”
9:55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them,
9:56 and they went to another village.
9:57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
9:58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
9:59 He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
9:60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
9:61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.”
9:62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
9:1 And He called together the twelve and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases.
9:2 And He sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
9:3 And He said to them, Take nothing for the journey, neither a staff nor a bag nor bread nor money, nor have two tunics apiece.
9:4 And into whatever house you enter, remain there and from there go out.
9:5 And as many as do not receive you, as you go out from that city, shake off the dust from your feet for a testimony against them.
9:6 And they went out and passed through village after village, announcing the gospel and healing everywhere.
9:7 And Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was happening and was utterly perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead,
9:8 And by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that a certain prophet of the ancients had risen up.
9:9 And Herod said, John I beheaded, but who is this concerning whom I hear such things? And he sought to see Him.
9:10 And when the apostles returned, they related to Him the things they had done. And taking them aside, He withdrew privately into a city called Bethsaida.
9:11 But the crowds found out and followed Him, and He welcomed them and spoke to them concerning the kingdom of God; and those who had need of healing He healed.
9:12 And the day began to decline, and the twelve came and said to Him, Send the crowd away so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside to lodge and find provisions, because we are here in a deserted place.
9:13 But He said to them, You give them something to eat. But they said, We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people.
9:14 For there were about five thousand men. And He said to His disciples, Make them recline in groups of about fifty each.
9:15 And they did so and made them all recline.
9:16 And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.
9:17 And they ate and were all satisfied. And what was left over among them was taken up, twelve handbaskets of broken pieces.
9:18 And as He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, Who do the crowds say that I am?
9:19 And they answered and said, John the Baptist, and others Elijah, and others that a certain prophet of the ancients has risen up.
9:20 And He said to them, But you, who do you say that I am? And Peter answered and said, The Christ of God.
9:21 But He charged them and commanded them to tell this to no one,
9:22 Saying, The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
9:23 And He said to them all, If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.
9:24 For whoever wants to save his soul-life shall lose it; but whoever loses his soul-life for My sake, this one shall save it.
9:25 For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world but loses or forfeits himself?
9:26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words, of this one will the Son of Man be ashamed when He comes in His glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
9:27 But I say to you truly, There are some of those standing here who shall by no means taste death until they see the kingdom of God.
9:28 And about eight days after these words, He took with Him Peter and John and James, and went up into the mountain to pray.
9:29 And as He prayed, the appearance of His face became different, and His garment dazzling white.
9:30 And behold, two men were conversing with Him, who were Moses and Elijah,
9:31 Who appeared in glory and spoke of His departure, which He was about to complete in Jerusalem.
9:32 Now Peter and those with him had been overcome with sleep, but when they had fully woken up, they saw His glory and the two men who were standing with Him.
9:33 And as they were departing from Him, Peter said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tents, one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah ? not knowing what he was saying.
9:34 And while he said these things, a cloud appeared and overshadowed them; and they became frightened as they entered into the cloud.
9:35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is My Son, the Chosen One. Hear Him!
9:36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and reported to no one in those days anything of what they had seen.
9:37 And on the following day, when they came down from the mountain, a great crowd met Him.
9:38 And behold, a man from the crowd called out, saying, Teacher, I beg You to look upon my son, for he is my only child.
9:39 And behold, a spirit takes him, and suddenly he cries out, and it throws him into convulsions with foaming; and it hardly goes away from him, all the time crushing him.
9:40 And I begged Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not.
9:41 And Jesus answered and said, O unbelieving and perverted generation! How long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.
9:42 And just as he was coming to Him, the demon threw him down and greatly convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the child and gave him back to his father.
9:43 And all were astounded at the majesty of God.
9:44 Put these words into your ears; for the Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.
9:45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them so that they would not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him concerning this saying.
9:46 And reasoning came in among them as to which of them was greatest.
9:47 And Jesus, seeing the reasoning of their heart, took hold of a little child and stood him beside Himself,
9:48 And He said to them, Whoever receives this little child because of My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for he who is least among you all, this one is great.
9:49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.
9:50 But Jesus said to him, Do not forbid him, for he who is not against you is for you.
9:51 And as the days were being fulfilled for Him to be taken up, He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.
9:52 And He sent messengers before His face. And they went and entered into a village of the Samaritans to prepare for Him.
9:53 And they did not receive Him, because His face was set to go to Jerusalem.
9:54 And seeing this, the disciples James and John said, Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?
9:55 But turning, He rebuked them and said, You do not know of what kind of spirit you are.
9:56 The Son of Man has not come to destroy men s lives but to save them. And they went into another village.
9:57 And 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 heaven have roosts, but the Son of Man does not have a place where He may lay His head.
9:59 And He said to another, Follow Me. But he said, Lord, permit me to go first and bury my father.
9:60 But He said to him, Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and announce the kingdom of God everywhere.
9:61 And another also said, I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say farewell to those in my house.
9:62 But Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand on the plow and looks behind is fit for the kingdom of God.