Hi friends, I'm Annie F Downs. Let's read the Gospels. The Gospels are the first four books of the New Testament in the Bible, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These are the stories of Jesus Christ's life on earth, the friendships, the parables, the sacrifices, the meals, the miracles. So here is how it works. I'll read three chapters to you. You can listen or read along in your own Bible or online, and then I'll pray. And that's it.

Today is day four, and I'll be reading Matthew chapters 10 through 12. And this month, I'm reading from the CSB version.

Matthew 10, summoning his 12 disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness.

These are the names of the 12 apostles. First Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother. James, the son of Zebedee and John, his brother.

Philip and Barthamu, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector, James, the son of

Alpheus, and Thaddeus, Simon the zealot, and Judas Ascariot, who also betrayed him.

Jesus sent out these 12 after giving them instructions.

Don't take the road that leads to the Gentiles, and don't enter any Samaritan town.

Instead, go to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. As you go,

proclaim, the kingdom of heaven has come near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy,

drive out demons. Freely, you received, freely give. Don't acquire gold, silver, or copper for your

money belts. Don't take a traveling bag for the road or an

extra shirt, sandals, or a staff. For the worker is worthy of his food. When you enter any town or

village, find out who is worthy and stay there until you leave. Greet a household when you enter it.

And if the household is worthy, let your peace be on it. But if it is unworthy, let your peace return to you.

If anyone does not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that house or town.

Truly, I tell you, it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

Look, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as

serpents and as innocent as doves. Beware of them because they will hand you over to local courts

and flog you in their synagogues. You'll even be brought before governors and kings because of me

to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles. But when they hand you over, don't worry about how or what

you are to speak. For you'll be given what to say at that hour because it isn't you speaking, but the

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