Then (Jesus) called the Twelve {together} (and) gave them power and authority over all - demons , and ( power ) to cure diseases.
And He sent them out ... to proclaim the kingdom - of God and to heal the sick.
“ Take nothing for the journey , ” - He told - them , “ no staff , no bag , no bread , no money , no second tunic - -.
- Whatever ... house you enter ... , stay there (until) you leave that area.
- If anyone ... vvv does not welcome you , shake the dust off your - feet when you leave ... that - town , as a testimony against them. ”
So they set out and went from - village to village , preaching the gospel and healing (people) everywhere.
When Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening , - he was perplexed. For - some - were saying that John - had risen from (the) dead ,
- - others that Elijah had appeared , and still others that a prophet of old had arisen.
“ I beheaded John - , ” - - Herod said , “ but who is this (man) I hear such things about - ? ” And he kept trying to see (Jesus).
Then the apostles returned (and) reported to (Jesus) all that they had done. - Taking them {away} vvv privately , He withdrew to a town called Bethsaida.
But the crowds found out (and) followed Him. - He welcomed them (and) spoke to them about the kingdom - of God , and He healed those who vvv needed healing.
As the day vvv neared its end , - the Twelve came to (Jesus) (and) said , “ Dismiss the crowd so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside for lodging and - provisions. For we are in a desolate place here. ”
But (Jesus) told - them , “ You give them something to eat. ” “ vvv We have only vvv vvv vvv five loaves of bread and two fish , ” - - they answered , “ unless ... we go (and) buy food for all these - people. ”
( - There were about five thousand men.) - He told ... His - disciples , “ Have them sit down ... in groups of about fifty {each}. ”
- They did so , and everyone was seated.
- Taking the five loaves and the two fish (and) looking up to - heaven , (Jesus) spoke a blessing and broke them. Then He gave (them) to the disciples to set before the people.
- vvv They all ate and were satisfied , and - (the disciples) picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
- (One day) as (Jesus) - was praying in private (and) the disciples were with Him , - He questioned them - : “ Who {do} the crowds say I am ? ”
- - They replied ... , “ (Some say) John - the Baptist ; - others (say) Elijah ; and still others , that a prophet - of old has arisen. ”
“ But (what about) you ? ” - (Jesus) asked -. “ Who do you say I am ? ” - Peter - answered ... , “ The Christ - of God. ”
- - (Jesus) strictly warned ... them {not} to tell this to (anyone).
“ The Son - of Man must suffer many things , ” He said -. - “ He must be rejected by the elders , - chief priests , and scribes , and He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. ”
Then (Jesus) said to all of them , “ If anyone wants to come after Me , he must deny himself and take up his - cross vvv daily and follow Me.
For whoever ... wants to save his - life will lose it , but whoever ... loses his - life for My sake ... - will save it.
- What does it profit a man to gain the whole world , yet lose or forfeit his very self ?
- 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.
But I tell you tRuth -fully , some who are standing here - vvv vvv will not taste death before ... they see the kingdom - of God. ”
- - About eight days after - (Jesus) had said these things , - He took with (Him) Peter - , - John - , and James - , (and) went up on - a mountain to pray.
And as ... He - was praying , the appearance of His face changed , and His - clothes became radiantly white.
- Suddenly two men , - - Moses and Elijah , began talking with (Jesus).
(They) appeared in glory (and) spoke about His - departure , which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
Meanwhile - Peter - and his companions ... ... were overcome by sleep , but when they awoke , they saw (Jesus’) - glory and the two men - standing with Him.
As ... ... (Moses and Elijah) - were leaving ... ... , - Peter - said to - Jesus , “ 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. ” ( vvv He did not know what he was saying.)
While (Peter -) was speaking ... , a cloud appeared and enveloped them , and they were afraid as - they entered ... the cloud.
And a voice came from the cloud , saying , “ This is My - Son , - whom I have chosen. Listen to Him ! ”
After ... the voice - had spoken , only Jesus was present (with them). - (The disciples) kept this to themselves , and in those - days they did not tell anyone ... ... what they had seen.
- - The next day , when they came down from the mountain , (Jesus) was met by a large crowd.
Suddenly ... a man in the crowd cried out ... , “ Teacher , I beg You to look at my - son , for he is my only child.
- - A spirit keeps seizing him , and he screams abruptly. - It throws him into convulsions ... (so that) he foams at the mouth. - It keeps mauling him (and) rarely departs from him.
- I begged Your - disciples to drive it out ... , but vvv they were unable. ”
“ O unbelieving and perverse generation ! ” - - Jesus replied .... “ How long ... must I remain with you and put up with you ? Bring your - son here. ”
Even while (the boy) was approaching , the demon slammed him to the ground ... - in a convulsion. But - Jesus rebuked the - unclean spirit , - healed the boy , and gave him back ... to his father.
And vvv they were all astonished at the greatness - of God. While everyone was marveling at all that (Jesus) was doing , He said to His - disciples ,
“ {Let} these - words sink into your - ears : - The Son - of Man is about to be delivered into (the) hands of men. ”
But - they did not understand this - statement. - It was veiled from them so that vvv they could not comprehend it , and they were afraid to ask Him about vvv vvv (it).
Then an argument started among (the disciples) (as to) which ... of them would be (the) greatest.
But - Jesus , knowing the thoughts of their hearts , vvv had ... a little child {stand} beside Him.
And 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 whoever is (the) least among all of you , he is (the) greatest. ”
“ Master , ” - - said ... John - , “ we saw someone driving out demons in Your - name , and we tried to stop him , because ... he does not accompany ... us. ”
[[Lexicon/G3301-3400#G3361|“ (Do} not)] stop (him) , ” - - Jesus replied - - , “ for whoever is not against you is for you. ”
- - As - the day of His ascension approached , - (Jesus) resolutely set out ... ... ... ... for Jerusalem.
- He sent messengers on ahead ... ... , (who) went ... into a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him.
But vvv (the people there) refused to welcome Him , because He ... ... was heading for Jerusalem.
When the disciples James - and John - saw (this) , they asked , “ Lord , do You want us to call down fire from - heaven - to consume them ? ”
But (Jesus) turned (and) rebuked them.
And (He and His disciples) went on to another village.
- As they were walking along the road , someone said to (Jesus) , “ I will follow You wherever ... You go. ”
- - Jesus replied - , “ - Foxes have dens and - birds of the air (have) nests , but the Son - of Man has no place ... to lay (His) head. ”
Then He said to another (man) , “ Follow Me. ” - - (The man) replied , “ Lord , first let me go (and) bury my - father. ”
But (Jesus) told him , “ Let the dead bury their own - dead. You , however , go (and) proclaim the kingdom - of God. ”
Still another - said , “ I will follow You , Lord ; but first let me bid farewell to - my - family. ”
Then - Jesus declared ... ... , “ No one who puts (his) hand to (the) plow and then looks vvv vvv back is fit for the kingdom - of God. ”