Streetlights New Testament - Flipbook - Page 29
page 17
Jesus Heals the Blind
27After Jesus left the girl’s home, two blind men
followed along behind him, shouting, “Son of
David, have mercy on us!”
28 They went right into the house where he
was staying, and J esus asked them, “Do you
believe I can make you see?”
“Yes, Lord,” they told him, “we do.”
29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “Be
cause of your faith, it will happen.” 30Then their
eyes were opened, and they could see! Jesus
sternly warned them, “Don’t tell anyone about
this.” 31But instead, they went out and spread
his fame all over the region.
32 When they left, a demon-possessed man
who couldn’t speak was brought to J esus. 33So
Jesus cast out the demon, and then the man
began to speak. The crowds were amazed.
“Nothing like this has ever happened in Israel!”
they exclaimed.
34 But the Pharisees said, “He can cast out de
mons because he is empowered by the prince
of demons.”
The Need for Workers
35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and vil
lages of that area, teaching in the synagogues
and announcing the Good News about the
Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease
and illness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had
compassion on them because they were con
fused and helpless, like sheep without a shep
herd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is
great, but the workers are few. 38So pray to the
Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him
to send more workers into his fields.”
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles
Jesus called his twelve disciples together
and gave them authority to cast out evil
spirits and to heal every kind of disease and
illness. 2 Here are the names of the twelve
apostles:
10
3
4
first, Simon (also called Peter),
then Andrew (Peter’s brother),
James (son of Zebedee),
John (James’s brother),
Philip,
Bartholomew,
Thomas,
Matthew (the tax collector),
James (son of Alphaeus),
Thaddaeus,
Simon (the zealot),
Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).
M at t h e w 1 0
5
Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with
these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles
or the Samaritans, 6 but only to the people of
Israel—God’s lost sheep. 7 Go and announce
to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near.
8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with
leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as
you have received!
9 “Don’t take any money in your money
belts—no gold, silver, or even copper coins.
10 Don’t carry a traveler’s bag with a change of
clothes and sandals or even a walking stick.
Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because
those who work deserve to be fed.
11 “Whenever you enter a city or village,
search for a worthy person and stay in his
home until you leave town. 12 When you enter
the home, give it your blessing. 13 If it turns out
to be a worthy home, let your blessing stand; if
it is not, take back the blessing. 14If any house
hold or town refuses to welcome you or listen
to your message, shake its dust from your feet
as you leave. 15 I tell you the truth, the wicked
cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better
off than such a town on the judgment day.
16 “Look, I am sending you out as sheep
among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes
and harmless as doves. 17But beware! For you
will be handed over to the courts and will be
flogged with whips in the synagogues. 18 You
will stand trial before governors and kings
because you are my followers. But this will be
your opportunity to tell the rulers and other
unbelievers about me. 19 When you are ar
rested, don’t worry about how to respond or
what to say. God will give you the right words
at the right time. 20 For it is not you who will be
speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father
speaking through you.
21“A brother will betray his brother to death,
a father will betray his own child, and children
will rebel against their parents and cause them
to be killed. 22And all nations will hate you be
cause you are my followers. But everyone who
endures to the end will be saved. 23When you
are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I
tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return
before you have reached all the towns of Israel.
24 “Students are not greater than their
teacher, and slaves are not greater than their
master. 25Students are to be like their teacher,
and slaves are to be like their master. And since
I, the master of the household, have been called
the prince of demons, the members of my
household will be called by even worse names!
26 “But don’t be afraid of those who threaten
