23But when they shall persecute you in one city, flee unto another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not complete your circuit through the cities of Israel before the Son of man comes. 24The disciple is not superior to his teacher, nor the servant above his master. 25It is sufficient if the disciple be as his teacher, and the servant as his master. If they have called the master of the family Beelzebub, how much more his domestics? 26However, fear them not: for there is nothing concealed, which shall not be discovered; nor hid, which shall not be known. 27What I say unto you in the dark, publish in the light: and what ye hear whispered into the ear, proclaim upon the roofs.
28And be not afraid of those who kill the body, and cannot kill the soul: but fear him rather who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father. 30But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31Fear not, therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
32Every one therefore who shall make confession of me before men, of him will I also make confession before my Father who is in heaven. 33But whosoever shall disown me before men, him will I also disown before my Father who is in heaven.
34Think not that I am come to bring peace to the earth: I came not to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I came to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36And the enemies of a man shall be those of his own house. 37He 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. 38And he that taketh not up his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39He that preserveth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall preserve it. 40He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 41He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet, shall receive the reward of a prophet; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, shall receive the reward of a righteous man. 42And whosoever shall give to one of these little ones, if but a cup of cold water to drink, in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
[CHAP. XI.]
AND it came to pass, when Jesus had finished his injunctions to his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and preach in their cities.
2Then John, having heard in prison the works of Christ, sent two of his disciples, 3and said unto him, Art thou he that cometh, or should we expect another? 4And Jesus answering said unto them, Go, and tell John what things ye hear and see. 5The blind receive sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6And blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended at me.
7And when they were gone, Jesus began to speak to the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 8But what went ye out to see? A man clothed in delicate garments? Lo! they who wear delicate garments are in the houses of kings. 9Yet what went ye out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and abundantly more than a prophet. 10For this is he of whom it is written, “Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.” 11Verily I say unto you, There hath not arisen, from those born of women, a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. 12But from the days of John the Baptist unto the present, the kingdom of heaven is assaulted by violence, and the invaders forcibly seize upon it. 13For all the prophets and the law until John, foretold this. 14And if ye will receive it, this is Elias who was to come. 15He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
16But to whom shall I resemble this generation? it is like little boys sitting in the places of concourse, and calling to their companions, 17and saying, We have piped to you, and ye have not danced; we have sung mournful ditties to you, and ye have not beat your breasts. 18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil: 19the Son of man is come eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, what a man! a glutton and a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners: though wisdom hath been justified by her children.