Luke 9
The Sending of the Twelve Apostles
9:1 After1 Jesus2 called3 the twelve4 together, he gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure5 diseases, 9:2 and he sent6 them out to proclaim7 the kingdom of God8 and to heal the sick.9 9:3 He10 said to them, “Take nothing for your11 journey – no staff,12 no bag,13 no bread, no money, and do not take an extra tunic.14 9:4 Whatever15 house you enter, stay there16 until you leave the area.17 9:5 Wherever18 they do not receive you,19 as you leave that town,20 shake the dust off21 your feet as a testimony against them.” 9:6 Then22 they departed and went throughout23 the villages, proclaiming the good news24 and healing people everywhere.
Herod’s Confusion about Jesus
9:7 Now Herod25 the tetrarch26 heard about everything that was happening, and he was thoroughly perplexed,27 because some people were saying that John28 had been raised from the dead, 9:8 while others were saying that Elijah29 had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had risen.30 9:9 Herod said, “I had John31 beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” So Herod wanted to learn about Jesus.32
The Feeding of the Five Thousand
9:10 When33 the apostles returned,34 they told Jesus35 everything they had done. Then36 he took them with him and they withdrew privately to a town37 called Bethsaida.38 9:11 But when the crowds found out, they followed him. He39 welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God,40 and cured those who needed healing.41 9:12 Now the day began to draw to a close,42 so43 the twelve came and said to Jesus,44 “Send the crowd away, so they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging45 and food, because we are in an isolated place.”46 9:13 But he said to them, “You47 give them something to eat.” They48 replied,49 “We have no more than five loaves and two fish – unless50 we go51 and buy food52 for all these people.” 9:14 (Now about five thousand men53 were there.)54 Then55 he said to his disciples, “Have56 them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 9:15 So they did as Jesus directed,57 and the people58 all sat down.
9:16 Then59 he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven he gave thanks60 and broke them. He gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 9:17 They all ate and were satisfied, and what was left over61 was picked up – twelve baskets of broken pieces.
Peter’s Confession
9:18 Once62 when Jesus63 was praying64 by himself, and his disciples were nearby, he asked them,65 “Who do the crowds say that I am?”66 9:19 They67 answered,68 “John the Baptist; others say Elijah;69 and still others that one of the prophets of long ago has risen.”70 9:20 Then71 he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter72 answered,73 “The Christ74 of God.” 9:21 But he forcefully commanded75 them not to tell this to anyone,76 9:22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer77 many things and be rejected by the elders,78 chief priests, and experts in the law,79 and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”80
A Call to Discipleship
9:23 Then81 he said to them all,82 “If anyone wants to become my follower,83 he must deny84 himself, take up his cross daily,85 and follow me. 9:24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it,86 but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 9:25 For what does it benefit a person87 if he gains the whole world but loses or forfeits himself? 9:26 For whoever is ashamed88 of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person89 when he comes in his glory and in the glory90 of the Father and of the holy angels. 9:27 But I tell you most certainly,91 there are some standing here who will not92 experience93 death before they see the kingdom of God.”94
The Transfiguration
9:28 Now95 about eight days96 after these sayings, Jesus97 took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up the mountain to pray. 9:29 As98 he was praying,99 the appearance of his face was transformed,100 and his clothes became very bright, a brilliant white.101 9:30 Then102 two men, Moses and Elijah,103 began talking with him.104 9:31 They appeared in glorious splendor and spoke about his departure105 that he was about to carry out106 at Jerusalem.107 9:32 Now Peter and those with him were quite sleepy,108 but as they became fully awake,109 they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 9:33 Then110 as the men111 were starting to leave,112 Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters,113 one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah” – not knowing what he was saying. 9:34 As114 he was saying this, a cloud115 came116 and overshadowed117 them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 9:35 Then118 a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One.119 Listen to him!”120 9:36 After121 the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. So122 they kept silent and told no one123 at that time124 anything of what they had seen.
Healing a Boy with an Unclean Spirit
9:37 Now on125 the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. 9:38 Then126 a man from the crowd cried out,127 “Teacher, I beg you to look at128 my son – he is my only child! 9:39 A129 spirit seizes him, and he suddenly screams;130 it throws him into convulsions131 and causes him to foam at the mouth. It hardly ever leaves him alone, torturing132 him severely. 9:40 I133 begged134 your disciples to cast it out, but135 they could not do so.”136 9:41 Jesus answered,137 “You138 unbelieving139 and perverse generation! How much longer140 must I be with you and endure141 you?142 Bring your son here.” 9:42 As143 the boy144 was approaching, the demon threw him to the ground145 and shook him with convulsions.146 But Jesus rebuked147 the unclean148 spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 9:43 Then149 they were all astonished at the mighty power150 of God.
Another Prediction of Jesus’ Suffering
But while the entire crowd151 was amazed at everything Jesus152 was doing, he said to his disciples, 9:44 “Take these words to heart,153 for the Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.”154 9:45 But they did not understand this statement; its meaning155 had been concealed156 from them, so that they could not grasp it. Yet157 they were afraid to ask him about this statement.
Concerning the Greatest
9:46 Now an argument started among the disciples158 as to which of them might be159 the greatest. 9:47 But when Jesus discerned their innermost thoughts,160 he took a child, had him stand by161 his side, 9:48 and said to them, “Whoever welcomes162 this child163 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.”164
On the Right Side
9:49 John answered,165 “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop166 him because he is not a disciple167 along with us.” 9:50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”
Rejection in Samaria
9:51 Now when168 the days drew near169 for him to be taken up,170 Jesus171 set out resolutely172 to go to Jerusalem.173 9:52 He174 sent messengers on ahead of him.175 As they went along,176 they entered a Samaritan village to make things ready in advance177 for him, 9:53 but the villagers178 refused to welcome179 him, because he was determined to go to Jerusalem.180 9:54 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 consume181 them?”182 9:55 But Jesus183 turned and rebuked them,184 9:56 and they went on to another village.
Challenging Professed Followers
9:57 As185 they were walking186 along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”187 9:58 Jesus said to him, “Foxes have dens and the birds in the sky188 have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”189 9:59 Jesus190 said to another, “Follow me.” But he replied,191 “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 9:60 But Jesus192 said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead,193 but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”194 9:61 Yet195 another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family.”196 9:62 Jesus197 said to him, “No one who puts his198 hand to the plow and looks back199 is fit for the kingdom of God.”200