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These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.
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But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
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And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
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Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
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Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts,
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nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.
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Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out.
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And when you go into a household, greet it.
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If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
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And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.
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Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!
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"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
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But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.
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You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
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But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;
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for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
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Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
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And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
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When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
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A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
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It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!
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Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.
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"Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.
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And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
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Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will.
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But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
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Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
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"Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
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But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
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"Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
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For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law';
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and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.'
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He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
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And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
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He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
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"He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.
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He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
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And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."