Through My Bible Yr 03 – February 23

Luke 9

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

¹ Jesus called the Twelve ^[1] together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases. ² He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. ³ He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money; and do not take two coats. ^{[2] 4} Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave. ⁵ If they do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”

⁶ They set out and went throughout the villages, proclaiming the good news and healing everywhere.

Recalling the Death of John the Baptist

⁷ Herod the tetrarch heard about everything that was happening, and he was quite puzzled because some said that John had risen from the dead. ⁸ Others said that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the ancient prophets had risen. ⁹ But Herod said, “I beheaded John, but who is this, about whom I hear such great things?” So he wanted to see him.

Jesus Feeds More Than Five Thousand

¹⁰ The apostles returned and told Jesus what they had done. He took them and withdrew privately to a town called Bethsaida. ¹¹ But when the crowds found out, they followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God. He also healed those who needed healing. ¹² As the day began to draw to a close, the Twelve came and said to him, “Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms to find lodging and food, because we are in a deserted place here.”

¹³ But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.”

“We have no more than five loaves and two fish,” they replied, “unless we go and buy food for all these people.” ¹⁴ (There were about five thousand men.)

He said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” ¹⁵ They did so and got them all to sit down. ¹⁶ Then Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish, and, looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke them. Then he kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd. ¹⁷ They all ate and were satisfied. And they picked up twelve basketfuls of the broken pieces that were left over.