Luke 9

Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

1Jesus called his twelve close followers together. He gave them power over all evil spirits. He also gave them power to heal sicknesses.

2And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

2He sent them out to tell people about God's kingdom. They were also to heal sick people.

3And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.

3He told them, "Take nothing with you for the trip. No walking stick, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt."

NoteThe old word "scrip" means a travel bag for food and supplies. "Two coats" means a spare shirt to change into.

4And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.

4"When you go into a house, stay there. Stay in that same house until you leave the town."

5And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.

5"Some towns will not welcome you. When you leave, shake their dust off your feet. That shows they said no to you."

6And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.

6So they left and went from village to village. They told the good news and healed people everywhere.

7Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead;

7Herod the ruler heard about everything Jesus was doing. He did not know what to think. Some people said John had come back to life.

8And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again.

8Others said Elijah had appeared. Others said one of the old prophets had come back to life. A prophet was someone who told people what God said.

9And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.

9Herod said, "I had John's head cut off. So who is this man I hear about?" He kept trying to see Jesus.

10And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.

10The twelve came back and told Jesus all they had done. He took them away by themselves to a town called Bethsaida.

11And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.

11But the crowds found out and followed him. Jesus welcomed them. He talked to them about God's kingdom. He healed those who needed healing.

12And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.

12Late in the day the twelve came to him. They said, "Send the crowd away. They can find food and beds in the villages nearby. There is nothing out here."

13But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.

13But Jesus said, "You give them something to eat." They said, "We only have five loaves of bread and two fish. We would have to go buy food for all these people."

NoteIn the King James Bible, "meat" means food of any kind, not just meat from animals.

14For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.

14There were about five thousand men there. Jesus told his followers, "Have the people sit down in groups of about fifty."

15And they did so, and made them all sit down.

15They did what he said, and everyone sat down.

16Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.

16Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up to the sky and thanked God for them. Then he broke the food and gave it to his followers to hand out.

17And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.

17Everyone ate and had plenty. The pieces left over filled twelve baskets.

18And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?

18One day Jesus was praying by himself, and his followers were with him. He asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?"

19They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.

19They answered, "Some say John the Baptist. Some say Elijah. Others say one of the old prophets has come back."

20He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.

20He asked, "But who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the one God promised to send."

21And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;

21Jesus warned them firmly. He told them not to say this to anyone.

22Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.

22He said, "The Son of Man must go through many hard things. The older leaders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the law will turn against him. He will be killed. Three days later he will be raised to life again."

Note"The Son of Man" is the name Jesus used for himself when he talked about himself.

23And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

23Then Jesus said to all of them, "Anyone who wants to come with me must say no to himself. He must pick up his cross every day and follow me."

24For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

24"Whoever tries to hold on to his life will lose it. Whoever gives up his life for me will save it."

25For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

25"Suppose a man owns the whole world but loses himself. What good has that done him?"

26For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.

26"Some people are ashamed of me and my words. The Son of Man will be ashamed of them too. He will come with shining glory, his Father's glory, and the holy angels' glory."

27But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.

27"I tell you the truth. Some people standing here will see God's kingdom before they die."

28And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

28About eight days after he said this, Jesus took Peter, John, and James with him. They went up a mountain to pray.

29And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

29While he was praying, his face changed and looked different. His clothes turned bright, shining white.

30And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:

30Then two men were there, talking with him. They were Moses and Elijah.

31Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

31They were shining with glory. They talked about how Jesus would soon leave this life. It would happen in Jerusalem.

NoteThe old word "decease" here means his leaving, which includes his death in Jerusalem.

32But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.

32Peter and the men with him were very sleepy. When they woke up, they saw Jesus shining. They saw the two men standing with him.

33And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.

33As the two men were leaving, Peter spoke up. He said, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us build three shelters. One for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." Peter did not know what he was saying.

34While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.

34While Peter was still talking, a cloud came and covered them. They were afraid as the cloud closed around them.

35And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

35A voice came out of the cloud. It said, "This is my Son, the one I chose. Listen to him!"

36And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.

36When the voice stopped, Jesus was there alone. The three men kept this to themselves. In those days they told no one what they had seen.

37And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.

37The next day they came down from the mountain. A big crowd met Jesus.

38And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.

38A man in the crowd called out, "Teacher, please come and look at my son. He is my only child."

39And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.

39"A spirit grabs him, and he suddenly screams. It shakes him hard, and he foams at the mouth. It hurts him and almost never leaves him."

40And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.

40"I begged your followers to send it away. They could not do it."

41And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.

41Jesus answered, "You people do not trust God, and you keep going the wrong way. How long must I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here."

42And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.

42While the boy was still coming, the evil spirit threw him down and shook him. Jesus spoke sharply to the spirit and healed the boy. Then he gave him back to his father.

43And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,

43Everyone was amazed at God's great power. While they were still wondering at all Jesus did, he spoke to his followers.

44Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.

44He said, "Listen closely and remember these words. The Son of Man is going to be handed over to men."

45But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

45But they did not understand what he meant. The meaning was hidden from them. And they were afraid to ask him about it.

46Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.

46Then his followers began arguing. They wanted to know which one of them was the greatest.

47And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,

47Jesus knew what they were thinking. He took a little child and stood the child beside him.

48And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.

48He said, "Whoever welcomes this child because of me is welcoming me. And whoever welcomes me is welcoming the One who sent me. The one who is smallest among you is the greatest."

49And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.

49John said, "Master, we saw a man using your name to send evil spirits away. We told him to stop, because he does not go around with us."

50And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.

50Jesus said, "Do not stop him. Anyone who is not against you is for you."

51And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,

51The time was coming for Jesus to be taken up to heaven. So he made up his mind to go to Jerusalem.

52And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.

52He sent messengers ahead of him. They went into a village in Samaria to get things ready for him.

53And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

53But the people there would not welcome him. This was because he was heading for Jerusalem.

54And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

54His followers James and John saw this. They said, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to burn them up, as Elijah did?"

55But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

55Jesus turned and told them they were wrong. He said, "You do not know what kind of spirit you have."

56For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

56"The Son of Man did not come to destroy people's lives. He came to save them." Then they went on to another village.

57And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

57As they walked along the road, a man said to Jesus, "Lord, I will follow you anywhere you go."

58And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

58Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds have nests. But the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

59And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

59Jesus said to another man, "Follow me." But the man said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."

60Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

60Jesus told him, "Let the dead bury their own dead. You go and tell people about God's kingdom."

61And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

61Another man said, "Lord, I will follow you. But first let me go say goodbye to my family at home."

62And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

62Jesus said to him, "Suppose a man starts plowing a field and then keeps looking back. He is not fit for God's kingdom."