The Twelve Apostles

(Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16)

1And having called to [him] his twelve disciples, he gave them power over unclean spirits, so that they should cast them out, and heal every disease and every bodily weakness.

2Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the [son] of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax-gatherer; James the [son] of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, who was surnamed Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Cananaean, and Judas the Iscariote, who also delivered him up.

The Ministry of the Twelve

(Mark 6:7-13; Luke 9:1-6)

5These twelve Jesus sent out when he had charged them, saying, Go not off into [the] way of [the] nations, and into a city of Samaritans enter ye not; 6but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of the heavens has drawn nigh. 8Heal [the] infirm, [raise the dead], cleanse lepers, cast out demons: ye have received gratuitously, give gratuitously. 9Do not provide yourselves with gold, or silver, or brass, for your belts, 10nor scrip for the way, nor two body coats, nor sandals, nor a staff: for the workman is worthy of his nourishment. 11But into whatsoever city or village ye enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and there remain till ye go forth. 12And as ye enter into a house salute it. 13And if the house indeed be worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, as ye go forth out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. 15Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in judgment-day than for that city.

Comfort in Persecution

(2 Timothy 1:6-12)

16Behold, I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves; be therefore prudent as the serpents, and guileless as the doves. 17But beware of men; for they will deliver you up to sanhedrims, and scourge you in their synagogues; 18and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations. 19But when they deliver you up, be not careful how or what ye shall speak; for it shall be given to you in that hour what ye shall speak. 20For ye are not the speakers, but the Spirit of your Father which speaks in you.

21But brother shall deliver up brother to death, and father child; and children shall rise up against parents and shall put them to death; 22and ye shall be hated of all on account of my name. But he that has endured to [the] end, he shall be saved.

23But when they persecute you in this city, flee to the other; for verily I say to you, Ye shall not have completed the cities of Israel until the Son of man be come.

24The disciple is not above his teacher, nor the bondman above his lord. 25[It is] sufficient for the disciple that he should become as his teacher, and the bondman as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more those of his household?

Fearing God Alone

(Luke 12:4-7)

26Fear them not therefore; for there is nothing covered which shall not be revealed, and secret which shall not be known. 27What I say to you in darkness speak in the light, and what ye hear in the ear preach upon the houses. 28And be not afraid of those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul; but fear rather him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father; 30but of you even the hairs of the head are all numbered. 31Fear not therefore; ye are better than many sparrows.

Confessing Christ

(Luke 12:8-12)

32Every one therefore who shall confess me before men, I also will confess him before my Father who is in [the] heavens. 33But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in [the] heavens.

The Sword of the Gospel

(Luke 12:49-53)

34Do not think that I have come to send peace upon the earth: I have not come to send peace, but a sword. 35For I have come to set a man at variance with his father, and the daughter with her mother, and the daughter-in-law with her mother-in-law; 36and they of his household [shall be] a man's enemies.

Take up Your Cross

(Matthew 16:24-28; Mark 8:34-38; Luke 9:23-27)

37He who loves father or mother above me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter above me is not worthy of me. 38And he who does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. 39He that finds his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for my sake shall find it.

The Reward of Service

(2 Kings 4:8-17)

40He that receives you receives me, and he that receives me receives him that sent me. 41He that receives a prophet in the name of a prophet, shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, shall receive a righteous man's reward. 42And whosoever shall give to drink to 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.