Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

⁷ Jesus called the Twelve and began to send them out two by two. He gave them authority over the unclean spirits. ⁸ He instructed them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their money belts. ⁹ They were to put on sandals but not to wear two coats. ¹⁰ He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that area. ¹¹ Any place that will not receive you or listen to you, as you leave there, shake off the dust that is under your feet as a testimony against them.”

¹² They went out and preached that people should repent. ¹³ They also drove out many demons. They anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

⁴ He did this when he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵ he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ. He did this in accordance with the good purpose of his will, ⁶ and for the praise of his glorious grace, which he has graciously given us in the one he loves.

⁷ In him we also have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in keeping with the riches of his grace, ⁸ which he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight. ⁹ He made known to us the mystery of his will in keeping with his good purpose, which he planned in Christ. ¹⁰ This was to be carried out when the time had fully come, in order to bring all things together in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth.

¹¹ In him we have also obtained an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in keeping with the purpose of his will. ¹² He did this so that his glory would be praised as a result of us, who were the first to hope in Christ.

¹³ In him, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and in him, when you also believed, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. ¹⁴ He is the down payment of our inheritance until the redemption of God’s own possession, so that his glory would be praised.