Luke 9

1And calling the twelve together, he gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases,

2And he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick,

3And he said to them, “Take nothing for the journey—neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics each.”

4And whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there.

5And as for all who do not receive you, as you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.

6So they went out and traveled through the villages, proclaiming the good news and healing everywhere.

7Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed because it was being said by some that John had been raised from the dead,

8and by some, that Elijah had appeared, and by others, that a prophet of the ancients had risen.

9But Herod said, “John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he kept seeking to see him.

10And when the apostles returned, they reported to him what they had done. And taking them with him, he withdrew privately to a town called Bethsaida.

11But the crowds, learning of it, followed him. And welcoming them, he was speaking to them about the kingdom of God and healing those who had need of healing.

12The day began to decline, and the twelve came and said to him, “Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, find lodging, and get provisions, because we are here in a desolate place.”

13But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” But they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this people.”

14For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Have them recline in groups of about fifty each.”

15And they did so, and had them all sit down.

16Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them and broke them and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd.

17And they all ate and were satisfied, and what was left over of the broken pieces was picked up for them: twelve baskets.

18And it happened that while he was praying alone, the disciples were with him, and he asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”

19And they answered, “John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and others, that some prophet of the ancients has risen.”

20And he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.”

21But he rebuked them and commanded them to tell this to no one,

22saying, “It is necessary for the Son of Man to suffer many things and to be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and to be killed, and on the third day to be raised.”

23And he was saying to all, “If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

24For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

25For what does a man profit if he gains the whole world, but loses or forfeits himself?

26For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

27But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will certainly not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.

28About eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.

29And as he was praying, the appearance of his face became different, and his clothing became white, flashing like lightning.

30And behold, two men were talking with him, who were Moses and Elijah,

31who, appearing in glory, were speaking about his departure, which he was about to fulfill in Jerusalem.

32Peter and those with him were weighed down with sleep; but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.

33And as they were departing from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” — not knowing what he was saying.

34While he was saying these things, a cloud appeared and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud.

35And a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, the Chosen One; listen to him.”

36And when the voice had come, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.

37On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a large crowd met him.

38And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, saying, “Teacher, I beg you to look upon my son, because he is my only child.”

39and look, a spirit seizes him, and suddenly he cries out, and it convulses him with foaming, and it scarcely departs from him, crushing him.

40And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they were not able.

41But Jesus answered, “O unbelieving and twisted generation, how long will I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.”

42But while he was still coming near, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

43And they were all astonished at the majesty of God. But while everyone was marveling at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples:

44Put these words into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be handed over into the hands of men.

45But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them so that they might not perceive it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

46Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them might be the greatest.

47But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and set him beside himself,

48And he said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you—this one is great.”

49Then John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he does not follow with us.”

50But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”

51It happened, when the days of his being taken up were being fulfilled, that he set his face to go to Jerusalem.

52And he sent messengers ahead of him. And they went and entered a village of the Samaritans to prepare for him.

53And they did not receive him, because his face was going toward Jerusalem.

54When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”

55But he turned and rebuked them.

56And they went on to another village.

57And as they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

58And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have dens, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

59Then he said to another, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.”

60But he said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

61And another also said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first permit me to say farewell to those in my house.”

62But Jesus said, “No one who has put his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”