Jesus Sends His Apostles on a Mission

9 ¹Jesus called the twelve apostles* together. He gave the apostles power to heal sicknesses and power over all demons.* ²Jesus sent the apostles to tell about God's kingdom and to heal the sick. ³He said to the apostles, "When you travel, don't take a walking stick. Also, don't carry a bag, food, or money. Take for your trip only the clothes you are wearing. ⁴When you go into a house, stay there until it is time to leave. ⁵If the people in the town will not welcome you, go outside the town and shake their dust off of your feet.* This will be a warning to them." ⁶So the apostles went out. They traveled through all the towns. They told the Good News* and healed people everywhere.

Herod Is Confused About Jesus

⁷Governor Herod* heard about all these things that were happening. He was confused because some people said, "John the Baptizer is risen from death." ⁸Other people said, "Elijah* has come to us." And some other people said, "One of the prophets* from long ago has risen from death." ⁹Herod said, "I cut off John's head. So who is this man I hear these things about?" Herod continued trying to see Jesus.

Jesus Feeds More than 5,000 People

¹⁰When the apostles* came back, they told Jesus the things they had done on their trip. Then Jesus took them away to a town called Bethsaida. There, Jesus and his apostles could be alone together. ¹¹But the people learned where Jesus went. They followed him. Jesus welcomed them and talked with them about God's kingdom. He healed the people that were sick. ¹²Late in the afternoon, the twelve apostles* came to Jesus and said, "No people live in this place. Send the people away. They need to find food and places to sleep in the farms and towns around here." ¹³But Jesus said to the apostles,*"You give them something to eat." The apostles said, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish. Do you want us to go buy food for all these people?" [There are too many!] ¹⁴(There were about 5,000 men there.) Jesus said to his followers, "Tell the people to sit in groups of about 50 people." ¹⁵So the followers did this and all the people sat down. ¹⁶Then Jesus took the five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus looked up into the sky and thanked God for the food. Then Jesus divided the food and gave it to the followers. Jesus told the followers to give the food to the people. ¹⁷All the people ate and were filled. And there was much food left. Twelve baskets were filled with the pieces of food that were not eaten.

Peter Says that Jesus Is the Christ

¹⁸One time Jesus was praying alone. His followers came together there. Jesus asked them, "Who do the people say I am?" ¹⁹The followers answered, "Some people say you are John, the Baptizer. Other people say you are Elijah.* And some people say you are one of the prophets* from long ago that has come back to life." ²⁰Then Jesus said to his followers, "And who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ* from God." ²¹Jesus warned them not to tell anyone.

Jesus Says that He Must Die

²²Then Jesus said, "The Son of Man* must suffer many things. He will be rejected by the older Jewish leaders, the leading priests, and teachers of the law. The Son of Man will be killed. But after three days he will be raised from death." ²³Jesus continued to say to all of them, "If any person wants to follow me, he must say 'No' to the things he wants. That person must accept the cross (suffering) that is given to him every day, and he must follow me. ²⁴The person that wants to save his life will lose it. And every person that gives his life for me will save it. ²⁵It is worth nothing for a person to have the whole world, if he himself is destroyed or lost. ²⁶If any person is ashamed of me and my teaching, then I* will be ashamed of that person. I will be ashamed of that person at the time I come with my glory and with the glory of the Father and the holy angels. ²⁷I tell you the truth. Some of you people standing here will see the kingdom of God before you die."

apostles The men Jesus chose to be his special helpers. demon(s) Demons are evil spirits from the devil. shake their dust off of your feet A warning. It would show that they were finished talking to these people. Good News The news that God has made a way for people to have their sins forgiven and live with him forever. Herod Herod Antipas, tetrarch (ruler) of Galilee and Perea, son of Herod the Great. Elijah A prophet that lived about 850 B.C. prophets People that spoke for God in Old Testament times. Christ The "anointed one" (Messiah) or chosen one of God. Son of Man A name Jesus used for himself. In Dan. 7:13-14, this is the name for the Messiah, the one God chose to save his people. I Literally, "the Son of Man" (Jesus).