1When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,2and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal those who were ill.3He told them: ‘Take nothing for the journey – no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.4Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town.5If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.’6So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.7Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead,8others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life.9But Herod said, ‘I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?’ And he tried to see him.
Jesus feeds the five thousand
10When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida,11but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.12Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, ‘Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.’13He replied, ‘You give them something to eat.’ They answered, ‘We have only five loaves of bread and two fish – unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.’14(About five thousand men were there.) But he said to his disciples, ‘Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each.’15The disciples did so, and everyone sat down.16Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people.17They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah
18Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, ‘Who do the crowds say I am?’19They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.’20‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Peter answered, ‘God’s Messiah.’
Jesus predicts his death
21Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone.22And he said, ‘The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.’23Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.24For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.25What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?26Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.27‘Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.’
The transfiguration
28About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.29As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.30Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendour, talking with Jesus.31They spoke about his departure,[1] which he was about to bring to fulfilment at Jerusalem.32Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.33As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, ‘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.’ (He did not know what he was saying.)34While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.35A voice came from the cloud, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.’36When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.
Jesus heals a demon-possessed boy
37The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him.38A man in the crowd called out, ‘Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child.39A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him.40I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.’41‘You unbelieving and perverse generation,’ Jesus replied, ‘how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.’42Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the impure spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father.
Jesus predicts his death a second time
43And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. While everyone was marvelling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples,44‘Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: the Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.’45But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.46An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.47Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and made him stand beside him.48Then 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 it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.’49‘Master,’ said John, ‘we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.’50‘Do not stop him,’ Jesus said, ‘for whoever is not against you is for you.’
Samaritan opposition
51As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.52And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him;53but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.54When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them[2]?’55But Jesus turned and rebuked them.56Then he and his disciples went to another village.
The cost of following Jesus
57As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’58Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’59He said to another man, ‘Follow me.’ But he replied, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’60Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’61Still another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.’62Jesus replied, ‘No-one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’
Luke 9
English Standard Version
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles
1And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, (Mt 10:1; Mr 3:13; Mr 6:7)2and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. (Mt 10:5; Mt 10:7; Lu 4:43; Lu 9:11; Lu 9:60; Lu 10:1; Lu 10:9)3And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.[1] (Mt 10:9; Mr 6:8; Lu 10:4; Lu 22:35)4And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart.5And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” (Ne 5:13; Mr 1:44; Ac 13:51; Ac 18:6; Jas 5:3)6And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. (Mr 6:12)
Herod Is Perplexed by Jesus
7Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, (Mt 14:1; Mr 6:14; Lu 3:1; Lu 3:19; Lu 9:19; Ac 13:1)8by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. (Lu 9:7)9Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him. (Lu 23:8)
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
10On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. (Mt 14:13; Mt 15:32; Mr 6:30; Mr 6:32; Mr 8:2; Joh 6:1)11When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing. (Lu 8:40; Lu 9:2)12Now the day began to wear away, and the twelve came and said to him, “Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place.” (Jer 6:4; Mt 15:23; Lu 24:29)13But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” (2Ki 4:42; Mt 16:9; Mr 8:19)14For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”15And they did so, and had them all sit down.16And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. (1Sa 9:13; Mt 26:26; Mr 7:34; Mr 8:7; Mr 14:22; Lu 24:30; Joh 11:41; Joh 17:1; 1Co 14:16)17And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.
Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ
18Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” (Mt 16:13; Mr 8:27)19And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” (Mt 14:2; Mt 17:10; Mr 6:14; Mr 6:15; Mr 9:11; Lu 9:7; Lu 9:8; Joh 1:21)20Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” (Mt 1:17; Lu 23:35; Ac 3:18; Re 12:10)
28Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. (Mt 14:23; Mt 17:1; Mr 9:2; Mr 14:33; Lu 8:51)29And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. (Ps 104:2; Da 7:9; Mt 28:3; Mr 16:12)30And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah,31who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure,[2] which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.32Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. (Da 8:18; Mt 26:43; Joh 1:14)33And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. (Ne 8:15; Mr 9:6; Mr 14:40)34As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. (Ex 24:15; 2Pe 1:17)35And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One;[3] listen to him!” (Ps 89:3; Isa 42:1; Isa 49:7; Lu 9:34; Lu 23:35; Ac 3:22)36And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen. (Mt 17:9; Mr 9:9)
Jesus Heals a Boy with an Unclean Spirit
37On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. (Mt 17:14; Mr 9:14)38And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. (Lu 7:12)39And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him.40And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” (Mt 10:1; Mr 6:7; Lu 9:1; Lu 10:17)41Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” (Joh 14:9; Joh 20:27; Php 2:15)42While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. (Zec 3:2; Mt 8:26; Mr 1:25; Lu 4:35; Lu 4:39; Lu 7:15; Jud 1:9)
Jesus Again Foretells His Death
43And all were astonished at the majesty of God. But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus[4] said to his disciples, (Mt 17:22; Mr 9:30; Lu 9:22; 2Pe 1:16)44“Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” (Lu 9:43)45But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying. (Mt 17:13; Mr 6:52; Mr 9:10; Lu 2:50; Lu 18:34; Lu 24:16; Joh 10:6; Joh 12:16; Joh 16:17)
Who Is the Greatest?
46An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. (Mt 18:1; Mt 20:20; Mr 9:33; Mr 10:35)47But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side48and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.” (Mt 10:40; Mt 10:42; Lu 22:26)
Anyone Not Against Us Is For Us
49John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” (Nu 11:28; Mt 7:22; Mt 12:27; Mr 9:38; Mr 16:17; Lu 10:17; Ac 19:13)50But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.” (Mt 12:30; Lu 11:23)
A Samaritan Village Rejects Jesus
51When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. (2Ki 12:17; Isa 50:7; Jer 42:15; Mr 16:19; Lu 13:22; Lu 17:11; Lu 18:31; Lu 19:11; Lu 19:28)52And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. (Mt 10:5; Lu 10:1)53But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. (Lu 10:33; Joh 4:9; Joh 4:20)54And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”[5] (Re 13:13)55But he turned and rebuked them.[6]56And they went on to another village.
The Cost of Following Jesus
57As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” (Mt 8:19; Lu 9:51)58And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”59To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”60And Jesus[7] said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” (Lu 9:2; Joh 5:25)61Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” (1Ki 19:20)62Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Php 3:13)