1 Jesus reuniu os Doze e lhes deu poder e autoridade para expulsar todos os demônios e curar enfermidades. 2 Depois, enviou-os para anunciar o reino de Deus e curar os enfermos. 3 Ele os instruiu, dizendo: "Não levem coisa alguma em sua jornada. Não levem cajado, nem bolsa de viagem, nem comida, nem dinheiro, nem mesmo uma muda de roupa extra. 4 Aonde quer que forem, hospedem-se na mesma casa até partirem da cidade. 5 E, se uma cidade se recusar a recebê-los, sacudam a poeira dos pés ao saírem, em sinal de reprovação".

6 Então começaram a percorrer os povoados, anunciando as boas-novas e curando os enfermos.

7 Quando Herodes Antipas ouviu falar de tudo que Jesus fazia, ficou perplexo, pois alguns diziam que João Batista havia ressuscitado dos mortos. 8 Outros acreditavam que Jesus era Elias, ou um dos antigos profetas que tinha voltado à vida.

9 "Eu decapitei João", dizia Herodes. "Então quem é o homem sobre quem ouço essas histórias?" E procurava ver Jesus.

10 Quando os apóstolos voltaram, contaram a Jesus tudo que tinham feito. Em seguida, Jesus se retirou para a cidade de Betsaida, a fim de estar a sós com eles. 11 As multidões descobriram seu paradeiro e o seguiram. Ele as recebeu, ensinou-lhes a respeito do reino de Deus e curou os que estavam enfermos.

12 No fim da tarde, os Doze se aproximaram e lhe disseram: "Mande as multidões aos povoados e campos vizinhos, para que encontrem comida e abrigo para passar a noite, pois estamos num lugar isolado".

13 Jesus, porém, disse: "Providenciem vocês mesmos alimento para eles".

"Temos apenas cinco pães e dois peixes", responderam. "Ou o senhor espera que compremos comida para todo esse povo?" 14 Havia ali cerca de cinco mil homens.

Jesus respondeu: "Digam a eles que se sentem em grupos de cinquenta". 15 Os discípulos seguiram sua instrução, e todos se sentaram. 16 Jesus tomou os cinco pães e os dois peixes, olhou para o céu e os abençoou. Então, partiu-os em pedaços e os entregou aos discípulos para que distribuíssem ao povo. 17 Todos comeram à vontade, e os discípulos encheram ainda doze cestos com as sobras.

18 Certo dia, Jesus orava em particular, acompanhado apenas dos discípulos. Ele lhes perguntou: "Quem as multidões dizem que eu sou?".

19 Os discípulos responderam: "Alguns dizem que o senhor é João Batista; outros, que é Elias; e outros ainda, que é um dos profetas antigos que ressuscitou".

20 "E vocês?", perguntou ele. "Quem vocês dizem que eu sou?"

Pedro respondeu: "O senhor é o Cristo enviado por Deus!".

21 Jesus advertiu severamente seus discípulos de que não dissessem a ninguém quem ele era. 22 "É necessário que o Filho do Homem sofra muitas coisas", disse. "Ele será rejeitado pelos líderes do povo, pelos principais sacerdotes e pelos mestres da lei. Será morto, mas no terceiro dia ressuscitará."

23 Disse ele à multidão: "Se alguém quer ser meu seguidor, negue a si mesmo, tome diariamente sua cruz e siga-me. 24 Se tentar se apegar à sua vida, a perderá. Mas, se abrir mão de sua vida por minha causa, a salvará. 25 Que vantagem há em ganhar o mundo inteiro, mas perder ou destruir a própria vida? 26 Se alguém se envergonhar de mim e de minha mensagem, o Filho do Homem se envergonhará dele quando vier em sua glória e na glória do Pai e dos santos anjos. 27 Eu lhes digo a verdade: alguns que aqui estão não morrerão antes de ver o reino de Deus!".

28 Cerca de oito dias depois, Jesus levou consigo Pedro, João e Tiago a um monte para orar. 29 Enquanto ele orava, a aparência de seu rosto foi transformada, e suas roupas se tornaram brancas e resplandecentes. 30 De repente, Moisés e Elias apareceram e começaram a falar com Jesus. 31 Tinham um aspecto glorioso e falavam sobre a partida de Jesus, que estava para se cumprir em Jerusalém.

32 Pedro e os outros lutavam contra o sono, mas acabaram despertando e viram a glória de Jesus e os dois homens que estavam com ele. 33 Quando Moisés e Elias iam se retirando, Pedro, sem saber o que dizia, falou: "Mestre, é maravilhoso estarmos aqui! Vamos fazer três tendas: uma será sua, uma de Moisés e outra de Elias". 34 Enquanto ele ainda falava, uma nuvem surgiu e os envolveu, enchendo-os de medo.

35 Então uma voz que vinha da nuvem disse: "Este é meu Filho, meu Escolhido. Ouçam-no!". 36 Quando a voz silenciou, só Jesus estava ali. Naquela ocasião, os discípulos não contaram a ninguém o que tinham visto.

37 No dia seguinte, quando desceram do monte, uma grande multidão veio ao encontro de Jesus. 38 Um homem na multidão gritou: "Mestre, suplico-lhe que veja meu filho, o único que tenho! 39 Um espírito impuro se apodera dele e o faz gritar. Lança-o em convulsões e o faz espumar pela boca. Sacode-o violentamente e quase nunca o deixa em paz. 40 Supliquei a seus discípulos que o expulsassem, mas eles não conseguiram".

41 Jesus disse: "Geração incrédula e corrompida! Até quando estarei com vocês e terei de suportá-los?". Então disse ao homem: "Traga-me seu filho".

42 Quando o menino se aproximou, o demônio o derrubou no chão, numa convulsão violenta. Jesus, porém, repreendeu o espírito impuro, curou o menino e o devolveu ao pai. 43 Todos se espantaram com a grandiosidade do poder de Deus.

Enquanto todos se maravilhavam com seus feitos, Jesus disse aos discípulos: 44 "Ouçam-me e lembrem-se do que lhes digo: o Filho do Homem será traído e entregue em mãos humanas". 45 Eles, porém, não entendiam essas coisas. O significado estava escondido deles, de modo que não eram capazes de compreender e tinham medo de perguntar.

46 Os discípulos começaram a discutir sobre qual deles seria o maior. 47 Jesus, conhecendo seus pensamentos, trouxe para junto de si uma criança pequena 48 e disse: "Quem recebe uma criança como esta em meu nome recebe a mim, e quem me recebe também recebe aquele que me enviou. Portanto, o menor entre vocês será o maior".

49 João disse a Jesus: "Mestre, vimos alguém usar seu nome para expulsar demônios; nós o proibimos, pois ele não era do nosso grupo".

50 "Não o proíbam!", disse Jesus. "Quem não é contra vocês é a favor de vocês."

51 Como se aproximava o tempo de ser elevado ao céu, Jesus partiu com determinação para Jerusalém. 52 Enviou mensageiros adiante até um povoado samaritano, a fim de fazerem os preparativos para sua chegada. 53 Contudo, os habitantes do povoado não receberam Jesus, porque parecia evidente que ele estava a caminho de Jerusalém. 54 Percebendo isso, Tiago e João disseram a Jesus: "Senhor, quer que mandemos cair fogo do céu para consumi-los?". 55 Jesus, porém, se voltou para eles e os repreendeu. 56 E seguiram para outro povoado.

57 Quando andavam pelo caminho, alguém disse a Jesus: "Eu o seguirei aonde quer que vá".

58 Jesus respondeu: "As raposas têm tocas onde morar e as aves têm ninhos, mas o Filho do Homem não tem sequer um lugar para recostar a cabeça".

59 E a outra pessoa ele disse: "Siga-me".

O homem, porém, respondeu: "Senhor, deixe-me primeiro sepultar meu pai".

60 Jesus respondeu: "Deixe que os mortos sepultem seus próprios mortos. Você, porém, deve ir e anunciar o reino de Deus".

61 Outro, ainda, disse: "Senhor, eu o seguirei, mas deixe que antes me despeça de minha família".

62 Mas Jesus lhe disse: "Quem põe a mão no arado e olha para trás não está apto para o reino de Deus".

1 And having called together the twelve, He gave them power and authority over all demons, and to heal diseases.2 And He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.3 And He said to them, "Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor knapsack nor bread nor silver; and do not have two tunics apiece.4 Whatever house you may enter, stay there, and from there go out.5 And as many as will not receive you, when you go out from that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them."6 As they went out, they were going about village by village, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all the things[ ]being done by Him; and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead,8 and by others that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the ancient prophets had arisen.9 And Herod said, "John I have beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?"And he was seeking to see Him.10 And the apostles, when they had returned, recounted to Him all that they had done. And taking them along, He withdrew privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.11 But when the crowds found out, they followed Him; and He welcomed them, and was speaking to them about the kingdom of God, and He cured those who needed healing.12 Now when the day began to decline, the twelve came and said to Him, "Dismiss the crowd, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and farms, and they may find lodging and find provisions; for we are in a deserted place here."13 But He said to them, "You give them [something] to eat."And they said, "We have no more than five loaves of bread and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people."14 For there were about five thousand men. And He said to His disciples, "Make them recline in groups of fifty."15 And they did so, and made them all recline.16 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.17 So they all ate and were satisfied, and twelve baskets of the remaining fragments were taken up by them.18 And it came to pass, while He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He questioned them, saying, "Who do the crowds pronounce Me to be?"19 So they answered and said, "John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the ancient prophets has arisen."20 He said to them, "But who do you pronounce Me to be?"Peter answered and said, "The Christ of God."21 And He strictly warned and commanded [them] to tell this to no one,22 saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and to be killed, and to be raised on the third day."23 Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.24 For whoever desires to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake shall save it.25 For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will by no means taste death until they see the kingdom of God."28 Now it came to pass, about eight days after these words, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.29 And while He was praying, the appearance of His face [became ]different, and His clothing [became] white and glistening.30 And behold, two men were talking with Him, who were Moses and Elijah,31 who appearing in glory were talking about His decease which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.32 But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; but becoming fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him.33 And it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good [for] us to be here; and let us make three tents: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah,"not knowing what he was saying.34 Now as he said these things, a cloud appeared and overshadowed them; and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud.35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!"36 When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept silent, and reported to no one in those days any of the things they had seen.37 Now it happened on the next day, when they came down from the mountain, that a great crowd met Him.38 And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, saying, "Teacher, I beg You, look upon my son, for he is my only child.39 And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out, and it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him.40 So I begged Your disciples that they might cast it out, but they could not."41 Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here."42 And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed [him]. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and gave him back to his father.43 And they were all amazed at the majesty of God. But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples,44 Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men."45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.46 Then a dispute came up among them as to which of them might be greater.47 But Jesus, having seen the thought of their heart, taking a little child, He stood him beside Himself,48 and said to them, "Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all shall be great."49 Now John answered and said, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us."50 But Jesus said to him, "Do not forbid [him], for he who is not against us is for us."51 Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,52 and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, so they might prepare for Him.53 But they did not receive Him, because He was determined to go to Jerusalem.54 And when they saw this, James and John His disciples said, "Lord, do You wish [that] we should call down fire from heaven and consume them, as Elijah did?"55 But turning, He rebuked them, and said, "You do not know of what sort of spirit you are.56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save [them]."And they went to another village.57 Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go."58 And 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."59 Then He said to another, "Follow Me."But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father."60 Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."61 And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but first permit me to say farewell to those who are at my house."62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."