Luke - Chapter 9

Passage

Then calling together the twelve apostles, he gave them power and authority over all devils and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. And he said to them: Take nothing for your journey, neither staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two coats. And whatever house you enter, stay there and do not leave from there. And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off even the dust of your feet, for a testimony against them. And going out, they went about through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all the things that were done by him. And he was puzzled, because it was said By some that John had risen from the dead: but by some others, that Elias had appeared: and by others, that one of the old prophets had risen again. And Herod said: John I have beheaded. But who is this of whom I hear such things? And he tried to see him. And the apostles, when they had returned, told him all they had done. And taking them, he went aside to a desert place, apart, which belongs to Bethsaida. When the people knew it, they followed him: and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and healed those who had need of healing. Now the day began to wear away. And the twelve came and said to him: Send away the crowd, so that, going into the towns and villages round about, they may find lodging and get food; for we are here in a desert place. But 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 should go and buy food for all this crowd. Now there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples: Make them sit down in groups of fifty. And they did so and made them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed them: and he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the crowd. And they all ate and were filled. And of the fragments that remained, twelve baskets were taken up. And it happened, as he was praying alone, that his disciples were also with him: and he asked them, saying: Who do the people say that I am? But they answered and said: John the Baptist; but some say Elias: and others say that one of the former prophets has risen again. And he said to them: But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered and said: The Christ of God. But he strictly warned them and commanded them to tell this to no one, Saying: The Son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by the ancients and chief priests and scribes and be killed and on the third day rise again. And he said to all: If anyone will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever will save his life shall lose it: for whoever shall lose his life for my sake shall save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses himself and casts himself away? For whoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him the Son of man shall be ashamed, when he shall come in his majesty and that of his Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly: There are some standing here who shall not taste death until they see the kingdom of God. And it happened, about eight days after these words, that he took Peter and James and John and went up a mountain to pray. And while he prayed, the appearance of his face was changed and his clothing became white and shining. And behold, two men were talking with him. And they were Moses and Elias, Appearing in majesty. And they spoke of his departure which he was to accomplish in Jerusalem. But Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep. And waking, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. And it happened that, as they were departing from him, Peter said to Jesus: Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles, one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. And as he spoke these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them. And they were afraid when they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying: This is my beloved Son. Hear him. And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days any of the things which they had seen. And it happened on the following day, when they came down from the mountain, that a great crowd met him. And behold, a man in the crowd cried out, saying: Master, I beg you, look upon my son, because he is my only one. And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out, and it throws him down and tears him, so that he foams; and bruising him, it hardly leaves him. And I asked your disciples to cast him out: and they could not. And Jesus answered and said: O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here. And as he was coming to him, the devil threw him down and tore him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and cured the boy and restored him to his father. And all were astonished at the mighty power of God. But while all were wondering at all the things he did, he said to his disciples: Lay up these words in your hearts, for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men. But they did not understand this word: and it was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it. And they were afraid to ask him about this word. And a thought entered into them, as to which of them should be greater. But Jesus, seeing the thoughts of their hearts, took a child and set him beside him, And said to them: Whoever shall receive this child in my name receives me; and whoever shall receive me receives him who sent me. For he who is the least among you all, he is the greatest. And John answered and said: Master, we saw a certain man casting out devils in your name: and we stopped him, because he does not follow with us. And Jesus said to him: Do not stop him: for whoever is not against you is for you. And it happened, when the days of his being taken up were coming to fulfillment, that he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him: and going, they entered a town of the Samaritans, to prepare for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John had seen this, they said: Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them? And turning, he rebuked them, saying: You do not know of what spirit you are. The Son of man did not come to destroy souls, but to save them. And they went into another town. And it happened, as they walked along the way, that a certain man said to him: I will follow you wherever you go. Jesus said to him: The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air nests: but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head. But he said to another: Follow me. And he said: Lord, let me first go and bury my father. And Jesus said to him: Let the dead bury their dead: but you go and preach the kingdom of God. And another said: I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say goodbye to those who are at my house. Jesus said to him: No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.