Matthew 10:16-39

16“I am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

17Beware of people, because they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues.

18And you will be brought before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them and the Gentiles.

19Whenever they hand you over for trial, do not worry about how to speak or what to say, for what you should say will be given to you at that time.

20For it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

21“Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against parents and have them put to death.

22And you will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

23Whenever they persecute you in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

24“A disciple is not greater than his teacher, nor a slave greater than his master.

25It is enough for the disciple to become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more will they defame the members of his household!

26“Do not be afraid of them, for nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing is secret that will not be made known.

27What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops.

28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

29Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.

30Even all the hairs on your head are numbered.

31So do not be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

32“Whoever, then, acknowledges me before people, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven.

33But whoever denies me before people, I will deny him also before my Father in heaven.

34“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace but a sword.

35For 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,

36and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.

37“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

38And whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life because of me will find it.