9 Calling the twelve disciples together, Jesus gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. 2 He sent them out to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 “Do not take anything with you for the journey,” he said to them, “no walking stick, no bag, no bread, no money, nor a change of clothes. 4 Whichever house you go into, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not accept you, shake the dust off your feet as you leave that town, as a testimony against them.” 6 They left and traveled through the villages, preaching the Gospel and healing everywhere.
    7 Herod the tetrarch heard about everything that was happening, and he was thoroughly puzzled. Some said that John had risen from the dead;  8 others said that Elijah had appeared; still others said that one of the ancient prophets had risen from death.  9 Herod said, “I myself had John beheaded, so who is this man I am hearing about?” And he kept on trying to see Jesus.
    10 When the Apostles returned they told Jesus all they had done. Then he took them with him and went privately to a town called Bethsaida.  11 But the crowds found out and followed him there. He welcomed them and began speaking to them about the Kingdom of God,[392] and healing those who needed it.
    12 As the day was coming to an end, the twelve came and said to him, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the villages and countryside around and find a place to stay and food to eat. We are in an isolated place here.”  13 But Jesus replied, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “All we have are five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people.”  14 There were about five thousand men there. “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty,” he said to his disciples. 15 So they did, and all the people sat down.  16 Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up to heaven, gave thanks, broke them in pieces, and kept on giving them to the disciples to give to the people.  17 They all ate until they were full, and twelve baskets of leftovers were collected.
    18 One time when Jesus was praying privately with just his disciples with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 They replied, “John the Baptist, or others say Elijah, and still others say one of the ancient prophets risen from the dead.” 20 He asked them, “But what about you — who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”  21 Jesus warned them, giving them strict instructions not to tell this to anybody. 22 “The Son of Man must suffer many things,” he said. “He will be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and religious teachers, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.” [393]
    23 Jesus said to everyone, “If anyone wants to be my disciple, you must deny yourself, pick up your cross daily, and follow me.  24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 What use is it for anyone to gain the whole world and then lose himself?  26 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 the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 I am telling you the truth: there are some standing here who will not die until they see the Kingdom of God.” [394]
    28 About eight days after saying this, Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up a mountain to pray.  29 While he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothing became a dazzling white. 30 Suddenly there were two men talking with him — Moses and Elijah. 31 They appeared in glorious splendor and were talking about Jesus’ death, which he was about to fulfill in Jerusalem.  32 Peter and the others were falling asleep, but they became fully awake and saw the glory of Jesus[395] and the two men standing with him. 33 Seeing that Moses and Elijah were about to leave, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is so good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters — one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not really know what he was saying. 34 As he was speaking a cloud came and spread out over them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.  35 A voice came from the cloud: “This is My Son, My chosen one. Listen to him!” [396] 36 When the voice finished speaking, only Jesus was there. They kept quiet about what happened, and told no one at that time about what they had seen.
    37 The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus. 38 A man in the crowd shouted out, “Teacher, I beg you to help my son. He is my only child.  39 A spirit takes hold of him and it suddenly screams, making him convulse and foam at the mouth. It hardly ever leaves him alone and is tormenting him severely.  40 I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.” 41 Jesus answered, “You unbelieving and perverted society, how long will I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” 42 Even as the boy was coming, the demon slammed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus commanded the evil spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43 And they were all astounded at the greatness of God. While everyone was marveling at everything Jesus was doing, he said to his disciples, 44 “Listen, and make sure these words sink in: the Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.” 45 But they did not understand this statement. Its meaning was hidden from them so they could not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.
    46 Then they started arguing among themselves about which of them would be the greatest. 47 But Jesus, knowing the thoughts of their hearts, picked up a child and placed him beside him. 48 He said to them, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the One who sent me, because the least among you is actually the greatest.”
49 John said, “Master, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, so we tried to stop him because he is not one of us.” 50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, because whoever is not against you is for you.”
    51 As the time approached for his ascension, Jesus was determined to go to Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers on ahead. They arrived at a Samaritan village to get things ready for him, 53 but the people there would not welcome him because he was determined to go to Jerusalem. 54 When his disciples James and John realized this, they asked, “lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and burn them up?” 55 But Jesus turned and reprimanded them, [and said, “You do not know what spirit you are of, because the Son of Man did not come to destroy people’s lives, but to save them.”] [397] 56 And they went on to another village.
    57 As they were walking, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go!” 58 Jesus said to him, “Foxes have dens, and wild birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere even to lay his head.”  59 He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus replied, “Let the dead bury their own dead. But you are to go and announce the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.”[398] 61 Another person said, “lord, I will follow you! But first let me go and say goodbye to my family.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “Nobody who has started plowing and then looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God.”