Matthew 10:1-11:1

And when he had called these twelve disciples to join him, he gave them power over unclean spirits. They were empowered to cast them out and to heal all sorts of sickness and disease.

Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; the first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James bar Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax-collector; James bar Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

As Jesus sent the twelve out, he told them, “Don’t go into the non-Jewish areas or any of the Samaritan towns. Rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach the message, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons. Freely you have received, so, freely give. Don’t take any gold or silver, or brass in your purses. Don’t take your backpack on the journey. Don’t take an extra coat, or shoes, or staves. A laborer is worth his food.

“Whatever city or town you enter, ask who the worthy citizens are. Stay with one until you leave. When you enter a home, salute it with a blessing. And if the house is worthy, let your peace rest on it. But if it isn’t worthy, let your peace return to you. If someone does not receive you or listen to what you teach, then as you leave that house or city, shake their dust off your feet. Truly, I tell you it will be better for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.

“Look, I’m sending you out as sheep among wolves. You have to be as wise as serpents, but harmless as doves. Beware! Men will bring you before the councils and will whip you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, as evidence against them and the gentiles. But when they charge you, don’t try to plan what to say for you will receive what to say that same hour. Rather, the Father’s Spirit will speak through you.

“Brother shall kill brother, and a father their child, and children will disrespect their parents—even causing them to be killed. You will be hated by everyone for my name’s sake. But he that endures to the end shall be saved. When they persecute you in one city, go to another one, for truly, I say to you, you will not have visited all the cities of Israel, until the Son of man comes.

“A student is not above his teacher, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be like his master, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much worse will they label those of his household? Don’t fear their slander, for nothing hidden will remain unrevealed and unknown. What I tell you privately, tell in public; and what is whispered in your ear, shout from the housetops.

“Don’t fear those who can destroy the body, but can’t kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Not one of them, however, will fall to the ground without your Father’s permission. Even the hairs on your head are all numbered. So, don’t fear! You are more valuable than lots of sparrows.

“Whomever acknowledges me before men will be acknowledged by me before my Father, which is in heaven. But those who deny me before men, I will not acknowledge before my Father, which is in heaven.

“Don’t think that I came to spread peace on the earth. I didn’t come to spread peace, but a sword. I am here to bring conflict between a man and his father, between a daughter and her mother, and a daughter-in-law and her mother-in-law. A man's enemies will be those of his own household. Whomever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whomever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Anyone that does not take up not his cross and follow me, is not worthy of me.

“Whomever finds his life shall lose it, but whomever loses his life for my sake shall find it. Whomever receives you receives me; and whomever receives me receives the one who sent me. He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet, will receive the prophet's reward; and whomever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man, shall receive the righteous man's reward. And whomever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple—truly, I tell you—he will not lose his reward.”

When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he left there to teach and to proclaim the kingdom in their cities.

Mark 6:7-13

And he gathered the twelve and dispatched them, two-by-two. He gave them power over unclean spirits, and commanded them to take nothing for their journey, except their staff—no backpack, no bread, or money in their purse—and shoes, but not two coats.

“And he said to them, “Wherever you are staying in a home, stay there until you leave the city. If someone won’t receive you or hear you, when you leave, shake off their dust from your feet as a demonstration against them. I tell you the truth, it will go easier for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.”

And they went out, preaching that men should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed many that were sick with oil, healing them.

At that time, Herod, the tetrarch, heard of the fame of Jesus and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has risen from the dead and these signs are coming from him.”

Luke 9:1-6

Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor a backpack. Don’t take any bread, money, or a second coat. And whichever home stay at, stay there and don’t leave it for another. Whoever rejects you, as you leave town, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”

And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere.