Luke 9

Ministry of the Twelve

11And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. 2And He sent them out to 2proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing. 3And He said to them, “3Take nothing for your journey, 4neither a staff, nor a 5bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have 6two tunics apiece. 4Whatever house you enter, stay there 7until you leave that city. 5And as for those who do not receive you, as you go out from that city, 8shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 6Departing, they began going 9throughout the villages, 10preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

711Now 12Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was happening; and he was greatly perplexed, because it was said by some that 13John had risen from the dead, 8and by some that 14Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen again. 9Herod said, “I myself had John beheaded; but who is this man about whom I hear such things?” And 15he kept trying to see Him.

1016When the apostles returned, they gave an account to Him of all that they had done. 17Taking them with Him, He withdrew by Himself to a city called 18Bethsaida. 11But the crowds were aware of this and followed Him; and welcoming them, He began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing.

Five Thousand Fed

12Now the day 19was ending, and the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the crowd away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging and get 20something to eat; for here we are in a desolate place.” 13But He said to them, “You give them something to eat!” And they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless perhaps we go and buy food for all these people.” 14(For there were about five thousand men.) And He said to His disciples, “Have them 21sit down to eat 22in groups of about fifty each.” 15They did so, and had them all 23sit down. 16Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and broke them, and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the 24people. 17And they all ate and were satisfied; and 25the broken pieces which they had left over were picked up, twelve 26baskets full.

1827And it happened that while He was 28praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, “Who do the 29people say that I am?” 19They answered and said, “John the Baptist, and others say Elijah; but others, that one of the prophets of old has risen again.” 20And He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered and said, “30The 31Christ of God.” 21But He 3233warned them and instructed them not to tell this to anyone, 2234saying, “35The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day.”

23And He was saying to them all, “36If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24For 37whoever wishes to save his 38life will lose it, but whoever loses his 39life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. 25For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and 40loses or forfeits himself? 2641For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27But I say to you truthfully, 42there are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

The Transfiguration

2843Some eight days after these sayings, He took along 44Peter and John and James, and 45went up on the mountain 46to pray. 29And while He was 47praying, the appearance of His face 48became different, and His clothing became white and 49gleaming. 30And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, 31who, appearing in 50glory, were speaking of His 51departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32Now Peter and his companions 52had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him. 33And as 53these were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, “54Master, it is good for us to be here; 55let us make three 56tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah”--57not realizing what he was saying. 34While he was saying this, a cloud 58formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35Then 59a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “60This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!” 36And when the voice 61had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And 62they kept silent, and reported to no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.

3763On the next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Him. 38And a man from the crowd shouted, saying, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, for he is my 64only boy, 39and a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly screams, and it throws him into a convulsion with foaming at the mouth; and only with difficulty does it leave him, mauling him as it leaves. 40I begged Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not.” 41And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” 42While he was still approaching, the demon 65slammed him to the ground and threw him into a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy and gave him back to his father. 43And they were all amazed at the 6667greatness of God.

68But while everyone was marveling at all that He was doing, He said to His disciples, 44“Let these words sink into your ears; 69for the Son of Man is going to be 70delivered into the hands of men.” 45But 71they 72did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they would not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this statement.

The Test of Greatness

4673An argument 74started among them as to which of them might be the greatest. 47But Jesus, 75knowing 76what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side, 48and said to them, “77Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; 78for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.”

4979John answered and said, “80Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us.” 50But Jesus said to him, “Do not hinder him; 81for he who is not against you is 82for you.”

51When the days were approaching for 83His 84ascension, He 85was determined 86to go to Jerusalem; 52and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the 87Samaritans to 88make arrangements for Him. 53But they did not receive Him, 89because 90He was traveling toward Jerusalem. 54When His disciples 91James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to 92command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55But He turned and rebuked them, [93and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; 56for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”] And they went on to another village.

Exacting Discipleship

5794As they were going along the road, 95someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” 58And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the 96air have 97nests, but 98the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” 59And He said to another, “99Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” 60But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and 100proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” 61Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but 101first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” 62But Jesus said to him, “102No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”