¶ And he called his xij. disciples unto him, and gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sicknesses, and all manner of diseases.
¶ The names of the xij. apostles are these. The first Simon which is called Peter: and Andrew his brother. Iames the son of Zebedee, and Ihon his brother. Philip and Bartholomew. Thomas and Matthew the publican. Iames the son of Alphe and Lebbeus, otherwise called Taddeus. Simon of chane, and Iudas Iscariot, which also betrayed him.
¶ These xij. sent Iesus, and commanded them saying: Go not into the ways that lead to the gentiles, and in to the cities of the samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israhel. Go and preach saying: how the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out the devils. Freely ye have received, freely give again. Possess not gold, nor silver, neither brass in your girdles, nor yet scrip towards your journey. Neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet a rod: for the workman is worthy to have his meat. Into whatsoever city, or town ye shall come, enquire who is worthy in it, and there abide till ye go thence.
¶ And when ye come into an house greet the same. And if the house be worthy, your peace shall come upon the same. But if it be not worthy, your peace shall return to you again. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor will hear your preaching, when ye depart out of that house, or that city, shake off the dust of your feet. Truly I say unto you, it shall be easier for the land of Sodom, and Gomorra, in the day of judgement, than for that city.
¶ Lo I send you forth, as sheep among wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they shall deliver you up to the councils, and shall scourge you in their synagogues. And ye shall be brought to the head rulers and kings for my sake, in witness to them and to the gentiles.
¶ But when they put you up, take no thought, how, or what ye shall speak, for it shall be given you even in that same hour, what ye shall say. For it is not ye that speak, but the spirit of your father which speaketh in you. The brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son. And the children shall arise against their fathers, and mothers, and shall put them to death, and ye shall be hated of all men, for my name. But whosoever shall continue unto the end, shall be saved.
¶ When they persecute you in one city, fly into another. I tell you for a truth, ye shall not finish all the cities of Israhel, till the son of man be come. The disciple is not above his master: Nor yet the servant above his Lord. It is enough for the disciple to be as his master is, and that the servant be as his Lord is. If they have called the Lord of the house beelzebub: how much more shall they call them of his household so? Fear them not therefore.
¶ There is no thing so close, that shall not be opened, and no thing so 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 on the house tops.
¶ And fear ye not them which kill the body, and be 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 none of them doth light on the ground, without your father. And now are all the hairs of your heads numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value, than many sparrows.
¶ Whosoever therefore knowledgeth me before men, him will I knowledge 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 into the 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 his father, or mother more than me, is not worthy of me. And he that loveth his son, or daughter more than me, is not meet for me. And he that taketh not his cross and followeth me, is not meet for 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 the reward of a righteous man. And whosoever shall give unto one of these little ones to, drink a cup of cold water only, in the name of a disciple: I tell you of a truth, he shall not lose his reward.
© Faith of God
William Tyndale 1525