⁵ Jesus sent the twelve men out with these instructions: “Don’t go to the non-Jewish people. And don’t go into any town where the Samaritans live. ⁶ But go to the people of Israel. They are like sheep that are lost. ⁷ When you go, tell them this: ‘God’s kingdom is now very near.^[a]’ ⁸ Heal the sick. Bring the dead back to life. Heal the people who have leprosy. And force demons out of people. I give you these powers freely, so help others freely. ⁹ Don’t carry any money with you—gold or silver or copper. ¹⁰ Don’t carry a bag. Take only the clothes and sandals you are wearing. And don’t take a walking stick. A worker should be given what he needs.

¹¹ “When you enter a city or town, find some worthy person there and stay in his home until you leave. ¹² When you enter that home, say, ‘Peace be with you.’ ¹³ If the people in that home welcome you, they are worthy of your peace. May they have the peace you wished for them. But if they don’t welcome you, they are not worthy of your peace. Take back the peace you wished for them. ¹⁴ And if the people in a home or a town refuse to welcome you or listen to you, then leave that place and shake the dust off your feet.^{[b] 15} I can assure you that on the judgment day it will be worse for that town than for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Jesus Sends His Apostles on a Mission^(A)

⁷ Jesus called his twelve apostles together. He sent them out in groups of two and gave them power over evil spirits. ⁸ This is what he told them: “Take nothing for your trip except a stick for walking. Take no bread, no bag, and no money. ⁹ You can wear sandals, but don’t take extra clothes. ¹⁰ When you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. ¹¹ If any town refuses to accept you or refuses to listen to you, then leave that town and shake the dust off your feet^[a] as a warning to them.”

¹² The apostles left and went to other places. They talked to the people and told them to change their hearts and lives. ¹³ They forced many demons out of people and put olive oil on^[b] many who were sick and healed them.