1Christ sendeth out his twelve apostles with power to do miracles. 5He instructeth them; 16and forewarning them of persecutions, suggesteth motives of comfort and constancy; 40he promiseth a blessing to those who should receive them.
1AND when he had called unto him hisa twelve disciples, he gave them 1power 2against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
a Mark 3:13; Luke 6:13; 9:1.
1 Namely, to work miracles in His Name and by the power of God, not by their own power, see Acts 3:12, 16.
2 Or, over the unclean spirits.
2Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The 3first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3 Peter is here named first, not because he had power and authority over the rest, which God’s Word nowhere teaches, seeing that herein the apostles were equal one to another, John 20:22, 23, but, as it seems, because he was the eldest and first called to the apostleship by Christ, Mat. 4:18. Other, James is also named first before Peter, Gal. 2:9. Or else, because he, with his brother Andrew, was the first pair who were sent forth.
3Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew 4the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was 5Thaddæus;
4 That is, who had been a publican. See Mat. 9:9. Is also called Levi, Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27, 29.
5Thaddia in the Syrian (language) is Judas in the Hebrew, which was his first name. See John 14:22. Though some think that this is yet a third name of this apostle, and of another origin. He is also surnamed Lebbæus.
4Simon 6the Canaanite, and Judas 7Iscariot, who also 8betrayed him.
6 That is, zealot. Gr. zelotes. As the first Simon is surnamed Peter, so is this second surnamed Canaanite, that is, zealot, to distinguish him from the other. See Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13.
7 Some think that this Judas was so called from the city of Kerioth, situated in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:25. Others from secarjuth, which signifies a bag, because he carried the purse, John 12:6.
8 Gr. delivered Him over.
5These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the 9Samaritans enter ye not:
9 The Samaritans are here joined with the Gentiles and distinguished from them, because, though they were of gentile descent, they had taken up many ceremonies of the Jews. See 2 Kings 17.
6Butb go rather to the lost sheep of the house 10of Israel.
b Acts 3:26; 13:26, 46.
10 That is, the Jews, who were as wandering sheep without true teachers. To these the Gospel must first be preached, Mat. 15:24; Acts 13:46.
7And as ye go, preach,c saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
c Luke 9:2.
8Heald the 11sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely yee have received, freely give.
d Luke 10:9.
11 Gr. infirm.
e Acts 8:18, 20.
912Providef neither gold,g nor silver, nor brass in your 13purses,
12 Namely, for provision on your journey.
f Mark 6:8; Luke 9:3; 22:35.
g in NT currency, $5.00*
13 Or, bags. For, the Jews had broad belts or girdles to truss up their long garments therewith, in which they likewise carried their money.
10Nor scriph for your journey, neither 14two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves:i forj the workman is worthy of his meat.
h bag*
14 That is, no clothes but those which they had on.
i poles, staffs*
j Lev. 19:13; Deut. 24:14; 25:4; Luke 10:7; 1 Cor. 9:4, 14; 1 Tim. 5:18.
11Andk into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is 15worthy; and there abide till ye go 16thence.
k Mark 6:10; Luke 9:4; 10:8.
15 That is, who will embrace the Gospel willingly, Acts 2:41, which worthiness no man has of himself, but he whom the Lord, by His Spirit, makes worthy and suitable for it, Mat. 22:8, 9; 2 Cor. 3:5.
16 That is, out of that city or town.
12And when ye come into an house, 17salute it.
17 That is, wishes those who dwell there, peace and happiness, as appears in the following verse. Others add thereto, saying, peace be to this house. See Luke 10:5.
13And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14Andl whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shakem off the 18dust of your feet.
l Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5.
m Acts 13:51; 18:6.
18 To signify thereby, that from now on they desired to have no communion at all with them. See Acts 13:51 and 18:6. See also the like, Neh. 5:13.
15Verilyn I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for 19the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
n Mark 6:11; Luke 10:12.
19 Or, the land of those of Sodom and Gomorra.
16¶Behold,o I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and 20harmless as doves.
o Luke 10:3.
20 Or, simple. The Greek word is by similitude taken from things that are unmixed and genuine.
17But beware of men: forp they will deliver you up to the 21councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
p Mat. 24:9; Luke 21:12; John 15:20; 16:2; Rev. 2:10.
21 Gr. synedria. See the exposition thereof in Mat. 5:22, and an example in Acts 5:40.
18Andq ye shall be brought before 22governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
q Acts 24:1; 25:4.
22 Namely, of provinces, as were Festus and Felix, and the like. See Acts 24:10; 1 Peter 2:14.
19Butr when they deliver you up, take no 23thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
r Mark 13:11; Luke 12:11; 21:14.
23 Not that we may not bethink ourselves beforehand, or pray to God for wisdom, but that we must not be too much perplexed or troubled thereabouts. See Acts 4:29.
20For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
21Ands the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them 24to be put to death.
s Micah 7:2, 5; Luke 21:16.
24 Or, bring to death.
22And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: butt he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
t Mat. 24:13; Mark 13:13; Luke 21:19; Rev. 2:10; 3:10.
23But whenu they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man 25be come.
u Mat. 2:13; 4:12; 12:15; Acts 8:1; 9:25; 14:6.
25 That is, shall come again unto you and meet you.
24Thev disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
v Luke 6:40; John 13:16; 15:20.
25It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. Ifw they have called the master of the house 26Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
w Mat. 9:34; 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15; John 8:48.
26 Gr. Beelzebul, Other translations read Beelzebub, which was the chiefest idol of the Ekronites, 2 Kings 1:2. By which name the Jews called the prince of the devils, because the idols of the Gentiles were devils. See 1 Cor. 10:20.
26Fearx them not therefore: fory there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
x Isa. 8:12; Jer. 1:8.
y Job 12:22; Mark 4:22; Luke 8:17; 12:2.
27What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear 27in the ear, that preach ye 28upon the housetops.
27 That is, that which ye in particular have now heard from Me, declare it publicly or aloud.
28 The roofs of the Jews’ houses were flat on top with a rail around about from where one could conveniently speak to people in the streets. See Deut. 22:8.
28Andz fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
z Jer. 1:8; Luke 12:4.
29Are not two 29sparrows sold for 30a farthing?aa and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
29 Other, little birds.
30 Gr. assarion, which was a piece of money, weighing about four grains or aces of silver.
aa (Gr. assarion) 8 mites; about $0.01
30Butab the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
ab 1 Sam. 14:45.
31Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
32Whosoeverac therefore shall confess me before men, him will I 31confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
ac Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26; 12:8:2 Tim. 2:12.
31 That is, acknowledge him for My true disciple. Like as to deny one is not to acknowledge him for His true disciple. See Mat. 7:23.
33But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
34Thinkad not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a 32sword.
ad Luke 12:51.
32 That is, discord and persecution, which would follow upon preaching, whereof Christ is not properly the cause, Who is the Prince of Peace, Isa. 9:6, nor His Gospel, which is a Gospel of peace, Eph. 6:15, but the obstinacy of those who reject the same and hate the faithful and persecute them maliciously.
35Forae I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the 33daughter in law against her mother in law.
ae Micah 7:6.
33 Gr. newly married, or bride.
36Andaf a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
af Psalm 41:9; 55:12; John 13:18.
37Heag that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
ag Luke 14:26.
38Andah he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
ah Mat. 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; 14:27.
39Heai that findeth his 34life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
ai Mat. 16:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24; 17:33; John 12:25.
34 That is, he who would preserve his life by denying My Name, he shall loose the true life, that is, salvation.
40¶Heaj that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
aj Luke 10:16; John 13:20.
41Heak that receiveth a prophet 35in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
ak 1 Kings 17:10; 18:4; 2 Kings 4:8.
35 That is, for that cause, that he is a prophet or true teacher of the Holy Gospel.
42Andal whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these 36little ones 37a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
al Mat. 25:40: Mark 9:41; Heb. 6:10.
36 That is, who are here esteemed little, or, who might be reckoned for the very least.
37 That is, even the least service or benefit, because he is a true disciple and member of Christ.