11 And whatever city or village you enter, find in it a worthy man, and stay with him until you go on. 12 When you enter the house, wish him peace. 13 And if the house is worthy of it, let your peace enter into it. But if he is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14And if they do not receive you and do not listen to your words, then when you go out of this house or city, shake off the dust101 from your feet. 15I assure you, it will be easier for Sodom and Gomorrah on the Day of Judgment than for that city.

The Destiny and Duty of Christ's Followers

16Behold, I am sending you, but behold, you will be like sheep among wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17Beware of men, for they will deliver you up to their judgment seats, and they will scourge you in their synagogues. 18They will bring you to governors and kings for my sake, as a witness to them and to the Gentiles. 19When you are judged, do not be anxious about how or what to say to you, for it will be given to you in that hour what to say. 20You will not speak, but the Spirit of your Father will give you the words.

21A brother will betray his brother to death, and a father will betray his child. children will rise up against their parents and send them to death; 22And all will hate you because of me.103 But whoever endures to the end will be saved. 23In one you will be persecuted by a city, flee to another; believe me, you will not have time to reach all the cities of Israel with the preaching of the Good News before the Son of Man comes.

24A disciple is not higher than a teacher, and a servant is not higher than his master. 25It is enough for a disciple to share the fate of his teacher, and for a servant his master. If the master of the house was called Beelzebub,104 how much more so were his household.

26So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. 27What I say to you in the dark, speak in the light of day, and what is spoken in the ear of the housetops, proclaim. 28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, the soul,[105] or those who cannot kill, but rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in fire.106 b. 29Only a penny[107] can buy two birds, can you not? But not one of them will fall to the ground without the knowledge of your Father. 30And you have all the hairs on your head counted. 31 So do not be afraid: you are more important than any multitude of birds.

32 Whosoever shall openly acknowledge me before men, him will I, the Son of man, acknowledge before my Father which is in heaven. 33And whoever denies Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father in heaven.

34Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; not peace, but a sword I have come to bring. 35For I have come to "divide the son[108] from the father,

a daughter with her mother,

the daughter-in-law with her mother-in-law,

36so that a man's enemies will be those who are close to him"[109].

37He is not worthy of Me who loves his father or mother more than Me, and he who loves his son or daughter more than Me. 38And whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is also unworthy of me. 39He who saves his life for himself will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will gain it.

Reward for Those Who Receive Jesus' Messengers

40Whoever receives you receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 Whoever receives the messenger of God[110] because he is the messenger of God will receive the reward of the messenger, and he who receives the righteous because he is righteous will receive the reward of the righteous. 42 And if any man give even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones, because he is my disciple, I assure you, he shall not lose his reward."