1 He called the twelve*9:1 TR reads "his twelve disciples" instead of "the twelve" together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them out to preach God’s Kingdom and to heal the sick. 3 He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey—no staffs, nor wallet, nor bread, nor money. Don’t have two tunics each. 4 Into whatever house you enter, stay there, and depart from there. 5 As many as don’t receive you, when you depart from that city, shake off even the dust from your feet for a testimony against them."

6 They departed and went throughout the villages, preaching the Good News and healing everywhere.

7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him; and he was very perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, 8 and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again. 9 Herod said, "I beheaded John, but who is this about whom I hear such things?" He sought to see him.

10 The apostles, when they had returned, told him what things they had done.

He took them and withdrew apart to a desert region of*9:10 NU omits "a desert region of". a city called Bethsaida. 11 But the multitudes, perceiving it, followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them of God’s Kingdom, and he cured those who needed healing. 12 The day began to wear away; and the twelve came and said to him, "Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and farms and lodge and get food, for we are here in a deserted place."

13 But he said to them, "You give them something to eat."

They said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we should go and buy food for all these people." 14 For they were about five thousand men.

He said to his disciples, "Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each." 15 They did so, and made them all sit down. 16 He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to the sky, he blessed them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude. 17 They ate and were all filled. They gathered up twelve baskets of broken pieces that were left over.

18 As he was praying alone, the disciples were near him, and he asked them, "Who do the multitudes say that I am?"

19 They answered, "‘John the Baptizer,’ but others say, ‘Elijah,’ and others, that one of the old prophets has risen again."

20 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

Peter answered, "The Christ of God."

21 But he warned them 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, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up."

23 He said to all, "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross,*9:23 TR, NU add "daily" and follow me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own self? 26 For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you the truth: There are some of those who stand here who will in no way taste of death until they see God’s Kingdom."

28 About eight days after these sayings, he took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up onto the mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white and dazzling. 30 Behold, two men were talking with him, who were Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure,*9:31 literally, "exodus" which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men who stood with him. 33 As they were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah," not knowing what he said.

34 While he said these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud. 35 A voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!" 36 When the voice came, Jesus was found alone. They were silent, and told no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.

37 On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great multitude met him. 38 Behold, a man from the crowd called out, saying, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only born*9:38 The phrase "only born" is from the Greek word "μονογενη", which is sometimes translated "only begotten" or "one and only". child. 39 Behold, a spirit takes him, he suddenly cries out, and it convulses him so that he foams; and it hardly departs from him, bruising him severely. 40 I begged your disciples to cast it out, and they couldn’t."

41 Jesus answered, "Faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here."

42 While he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him violently. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43 They were all astonished at the majesty of God.

But while all were marveling at all the things which Jesus did, he said to his disciples, 44 "Let these words sink into your ears, for the Son of Man will be delivered up into the hands of men." 45 But they didn’t understand this saying. It was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

46 An argument arose among them about which of them was the greatest. 47 Jesus, perceiving the reasoning of their hearts, took a little child, and set him by his side, 48 and said to them, "Whoever receives this little child in my name receives me. Whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For whoever is least among you all, this one will be great."

49 John answered, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow with us."

50 Jesus said to him, "Don’t forbid him, for he who is not against us is for us."

51 It came to pass, when the days were near that he should be taken up, he intently set his face to go to Jerusalem 52 and sent messengers before his face. They went and entered into a village of the Samaritans, so as to prepare for him. 53 They didn’t receive him, because he was traveling with his face set toward Jerusalem. 54 When his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from the sky and destroy them, just as Elijah did?"

55 But he turned and rebuked them, "You don’t know of what kind of spirit you are. 56 For the Son of Man didn’t come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them."

They went to another village. 57 As they went on the way, a certain man said to him, "I want to follow you wherever you go, Lord."

58 Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

59 He said to another, "Follow me!"

But he said, "Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father."

60 But Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and announce God’s Kingdom."

61 Another also said, "I want to follow you, Lord, but first allow me to say good-bye 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 God’s Kingdom."

1 Kutsunud kokku kaksteist jüngrit, andis Jeesus neile väe ja meelevalla välja ajada kurje vaime ja ravida haigusi 2 ning läkitas nad kuulutama Jumala riiki ja tervendama haigeid. 3 Ta ütles neile: „Ärge võtke midagi teele kaasa, ei keppi ega reisipauna ega leiba ega raha ega teist särki! 4 Kuhu majja te ka sisse astute, sinna jääge, kuni te linnast lahkute. 5 Kus teid vastu ei võeta, sellest linnast lahkuge ja raputage selle koha tolm oma jalgelt maha tunnistuseks nende vastu!" 6 Nad asusid teele ja käisid külast külla, kuulutasid evangeeliumi ja tegid haigeid terveks kõikjal.

7 Nelivürst Heroodes sai kuulda kõigest toimunust ja oli kimbatuses, sest mõned ütlesid, et Johannes on üles äratatud surnuist, 8 teised aga, et Eelija on ilmunud ja kolmandad, et keegi muistsetest prohvetitest on üles tõusnud! 9 Kuid Heroodes ütles: „Johannese pea lasksin ma maha raiuda. Kes on aga siis see, kellest ma kuulen sääraseid asju?" Ja ta püüdis Jeesust näha saada.

10 Kui apostlid pöördusid tagasi, jutustasid nad Jeesusele, mida nad olid teinud. Jeesus võttis nad kaasa ja eraldus koos nendega linna, mida kutsuti Betsaidaks. 11 Aga kui rahvas sellest teada sai, järgnesid nad talle. Jeesus võttis nad vastu ning rääkis neile Jumala riigist ja tervendas need, kes tervendamist vajasid.

12 Päev hakkas õhtusse jõudma ja ta juurde astusid kaksteist jüngrit ja ütlesid: „Saada rahvas minema, et nad läheksid ümberkaudsetesse linnadesse ja asulatesse toitu ja öömaja otsima, sest me oleme siin inimtühjas paigas."

13 Kuid Jeesus ütles neile: „Andke teie neile midagi süüa!"

Nad vastasid: „Meil ei ole rohkem kui viis leiba ja kaks kala, kui me just ei lähe ega osta toitu kogu sellele rahvale." 14 Seal oli umbes viis tuhat meest. Siis ütles Jeesus oma jüngritele: „Seadke nad istuma gruppidesse umbes viiekümne kaupa." 15 Jüngrid tegid nõnda ja kõik istusid maha. 16 Jeesus võttis need viis leiba ja kaks kala, vaatas üles taevasse, õnnistas neid ja murdis ning andis jüngrite kätte rahvale jagamiseks. 17 Nad sõid ja kõikide kõhud said täis. Ja neist üle jäänud palukesi korjati kokku kaksteist korvitäit.

18 Kord, kui Jeesus oli üksi palvetamas ja ta jüngrid olid temaga, küsis ta neilt: „Kelle ütlevad inimesed mind olevat?" 19 Nad vastasid talle: „Mõned ütlevad Ristija Johannese, mõned Eelija ja mõned kellegi muistsetest prohvetitest, kes on üles tõusnud." 20 Jeesus küsis neilt: „Aga teie? Kelle teie ütlete mind olevat?" Peetrus vastas: „Jumala Messia!"

21 Aga Jeesus hoiatas neid ja keelas sellest kellelegi rääkimast. 22 Ja ta ütles: „Inimese Poeg hüljatakse ning ta peab palju kannatama rahvavanemate, ülempreestrite ja kirjatundjate käes; ta tapetakse ning kolmandal päeval äratatakse üles."

23 Jeesus ütles kõikidele: „Kui keegi tahab olla minu jünger, siis ta salaku end maha ja kandku iga päev oma risti ja järgnegu mulle! 24 Sest kes tahab päästa oma elu, kaotab selle, kuid kes kaotab oma elu minu pärast, see päästab selle. 25 Mis kasu on inimesel, kui ta võidaks kogu maailma, oma hingele teeks aga kahju? 26 Igaüks, kes häbeneb mind ja minu sõnu, seda häbeneb ka Inimese Poeg, kui ta tuleb oma auhiilguses ning Isa ja pühade inglite auhiilguses.

27 Kuid tõesti, ma ütlen teile, siin seisavad mõned, kes ei maitse surma, enne kui nad näevad Jumala riiki."

28 Umbes nädal pärast seda võttis Jeesus kaasa Peetruse, Johannese ja Jaakobuse ning läks üles mäele palvetama. 29 Palvetamise ajal muutus tema pale ja ta riided muutusid säravaks kui välgu valgus. 30 Ja ennäe, kaks meest, Mooses ja Eelija, kõnelesid temaga. 31 Nad ilmusid auhiilguses ja kõnelesid tema lahkumisest, mille ta pidi täide viima Jeruusalemmas. 32 Peetrus ja tema kaaslased olid väsimusest uinunud, aga kui nad ärkasid, nägid nad Jeesuse auhiilgust ja kahte meest tema juures seisvat. 33 Kui Mooses ja Eelija olid Jeesuse juurest lahkumas, ütles Peetrus: „Õpetaja, siin on meil hea olla. Teeme kolm telki: ühe sulle, ühe Moosesele ja ühe Eelijale."

34 Kui Peetrus kõneles, tuli pilv ja varjas neid. Jüngrid kartsid, kui pilv neid kattis. 35 Pilve seest kostis hääl: „See on minu Poeg, kelle ma olen valinud. Teda kuulake!" 36 Kui hääl oli rääkinud, nägid nad, et Jeesus oli üksi. Jüngrid hoidsid selle enese teada ega rääkinud sel ajal kellelegi, mida nad olid näinud.

37 Järgmisel päeval, kui nad mäelt laskusid, tuli Jeesusele vastu suur rahvahulk. 38 Ja üks mees rahva hulgast kisendas: „Õpetaja, ma anun sind, vaata mu poja peale, sest ta on mu ainus laps! 39 Vaim haarab temast kinni ja poiss karjatab äkki. Vaim heidab ta krampidesse, nii et ta suust tuleb välja vahtu. Ta ei jäta teda peaaegu mitte kunagi ja hävitab ta. 40 Ma anusin sinu jüngreid, et nad ajaksid ta välja, aga nad ei suutnud."

41 Jeesus vastas: „Oh uskmatu ja rikutud sugupõlv! Kui kaua ma pean teie juures olema ja teid välja kannatama? Too oma poeg siia!"

42 Kui poiss oli alles lähenemas, virutas kuri vaim ta krampides maha ja kägistas teda. Jeesus aga sõitles rüvedat vaimu, tegi poisi terveks ning andis isale tagasi. 43 Kõik jahmusid Jumala vägevusest.

Aga kui kõik panid imeks Jeesuse tegusid, siis ütles ta oma jüngritele: 44 „Kuulake tähelepanelikult, mida ma teile ütlen – Inimese Poeg antakse inimeste kätte!" 45 Aga nemad ei saanud aru, mida ta sellega mõtles. See oli nende eest varjatud, et nad ei saaks aru, ja nad kartsid Jeesuselt selle kohta küsida.

46 Jüngrite hulgas tõusis tüli selle üle, kes neist on suurim. 47 Kuid Jeesus, teades nende mõtteid, võttis ühe lapse, pani ta enese kõrvale seisma 48 ja ütles neile: „Kes iganes võtab sellise lapse vastu minu nimel, võtab vastu minu. Ja kes iganes võtab vastu minu, võtab vastu selle, kes mind on läkitanud. Sest kes on väikseim teie hulgas, on suurim."

49 Siis ütles Johannes: „Õpetaja, me nägime üht meest sinu nimel kurje vaime välja ajamas ja me keelasime teda, sest ta ei järgi meiega koos sind."

50 Kuid Jeesus ütles talle: „Ärge keelake teda, sest kes ei ole teie vastu, see on teie poolt!"

51 Kui Jeesuse taevasse võtmise aeg kätte jõudis, hakkas ta otsustavalt Jeruusalemma poole minema. 52 Ja ta saatis enese ees sõnumitoojad, kes läksid ühte samariitlaste külla tema jaoks öömaja valmis seadma. 53 Kuid külarahvas ei võtnud teda vastu, sest ta oli teel Jeruusalemma. 54 Seda nähes ütlesid jüngrid Jaakobus ja Johannes: „Issand, kas sa tahad, et me käsime tulel taevast alla langeda ja nad ära hävitada?" 55 Jeesus aga pöördus ümber ja sõitles neid. 56 Ja ta läks koos jüngritega edasi teise külla.

57 Kui nad olid teed käimas, ütles keegi Jeesusele: „Ma järgnen sulle, kuhu sa iganes lähed!"

58 Jeesus kostis talle: „Rebastel on urud ja lindudel pesad, aga Inimese Pojal ei ole, kuhu oma pead panna."

59 Ja ühele teisele ütles Jeesus: „Järgne mulle!"

Ent see vastas: „Issand, luba mul esmalt minna isa matma!"

60 Jeesus ütles talle: „Las surnud matta ise oma surnuid, sina aga mine ja kuuluta Jumala riiki!"

61 Ja veel keegi ütles: „Issand, ma tahan sulle järgneda, kuid luba mul esmalt jätta hüvasti oma perega."

62 Kuid Jeesus vastas: „Ükski, kes on pannud käe adra külge ja siis vaatab tagasi, ei kõlba Jumala riigi teenistusse!"