Luke

The Gospel according to Saint Luke, chapter 9, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 9 New English Translation

   The Sending of the Twelve Apostles
   1 After Jesus called the twelve together, he gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey - no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, and do not take an extra tunic. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave the area. 5 Wherever they do not receive you, as you leave that town, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them." 6 Then they departed and went throughout the villages, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.
   Herod's Confusion about Jesus
   7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard about everything that was happening, and he was thoroughly perplexed, because some people were saying that John had been raised from the dead, 8 while others were saying that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had risen. 9 Herod said, "I had John beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?" So Herod wanted to learn about Jesus.
   The Feeding of the Five Thousand
   10 When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew privately to a town called Bethsaida. 11 But when the crowds found out, they followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and cured those who needed healing. 12 Now the day began to draw to a close, so the twelve came and said to Jesus, "Send the crowd away, so they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging and food, because we are in an isolated place." 13 But he said to them, "You give them something to eat." They replied, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish - unless we go and buy food for all these people." 14 (Now about five thousand men were there. ) Then he said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each." 15 So they did as Jesus directed, and the people all sat down.
   16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven he gave thanks and broke them. He gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 They all ate and were satisfied, and what was left over was picked up - twelve baskets of broken pieces.
   Peter's Confession
   18 Once when Jesus was praying by himself, and his disciples were nearby, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" 19 They answered, "John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others that one of the prophets of long ago has risen." 20 Then he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God." 21 But he forcefully commanded them not to tell this to anyone, 22 saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and on the third day be raised."
   A Call to Discipleship
   23 Then he said to them all, "If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you most certainly, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the kingdom of God."
   The Transfiguration
   28 Now about eight days after these sayings, Jesus took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up the mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became very bright, a brilliant white. 30 Then two men, Moses and Elijah, began talking with him. 31 They appeared in glorious splendor and spoke about his departure that he was about to carry out at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those with him were quite sleepy, but as they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 Then as the men were starting to leave, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah" - not knowing what he was saying. 34 As he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 Then a voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him!" 36 After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. So they kept silent and told no one at that time anything of what they had seen.
   Healing a Boy with an Unclean Spirit
   37 Now on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. 38 Then a man from the crowd cried out, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son - he is my only child! 39 A spirit seizes him, and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions and causes him to foam at the mouth. It hardly ever leaves him alone, torturing him severely. 40 I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so." 41 Jesus answered, "You unbelieving and perverse generation! How much longer must I be with you and endure you? Bring your son here." 42 As the boy was approaching, the demon threw him to the ground and shook him with convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.
   Another Prediction of Jesus' Suffering
   43 Then they were all astonished at the mighty power of God. But while the entire crowd was amazed at everything Jesus was doing, he said to his disciples, 44 "Take these words to heart, for the Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men." 45 But they did not understand this statement; its meaning had been concealed from them, so that they could not grasp it. Yet they were afraid to ask him about this statement.
   Concerning the Greatest
   46 Now an argument started among the disciples as to which of them might be the greatest. 47 But when Jesus discerned their innermost thoughts, he took a child, had him stand by his side, 48 and said to them, "Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me, for the one who is least among you all is the one who is great."
   On the Right Side
   49 John answered, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he is not a disciple along with us." 50 But Jesus said to him, "Do not stop him, for whoever is not against you is for you."
   Rejection in Samaria
   51 Now when the days drew near for him to be taken up, Jesus set out resolutely to go to Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers on ahead of him. As they went along, they entered a Samaritan village to make things ready in advance for him, 53 but the villagers refused to welcome him, because he was determined to go to Jerusalem. 54 Now when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, "LORD, do you want us to call fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them, 56 and they went on to another village.
   Challenging Professed Followers
   57 As they were walking along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." 58 Jesus said to him, "Foxes have dens and the birds in the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." 59 Jesus said to another, "Follow me." But he replied, "LORD, first let me go and bury my father." 60 But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." 61 Yet another said, "I will follow you, LORD, but first let me say goodbye to my family." 62 Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

King James Version

   1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
   2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
   3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.
   4 And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.
   5 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.
   6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.
   7 ¶ Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead;
   8 And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again.
   9 And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.
   10 ¶ And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.
   11 And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.
   12 And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.
   13 But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.
   14 For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.
   15 And they did so, and made them all sit down.
   16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.
   17 And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.
   18 ¶ And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?
   19 They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.
   20 He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.
   21 And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;
   22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.
   23 ¶ And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
   24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
   25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
   26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
   27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
   28 ¶ And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
   29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
   30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
   31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
   32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
   33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
   34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
   35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
   36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.
   37 ¶ And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.
   38 And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.
   39 And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.
   40 And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.
   41 And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.
   42 And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.
   43 ¶ And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,
   44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
   45 But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.
   46 ¶ Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
   47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,
   48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.
   49 ¶ And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.
   50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
   51 ¶ And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
   52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
   53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
   54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
   55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
   56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
   57 ¶ And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
   58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
   59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
   60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
   61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
   62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.