[ When Jesus had called the Twelve together ], he gave them power and authority [ to drive out all demons ] and [ to cure diseases ], and he sent them out [ to proclaim the kingdom of God ] and [ to heal the sick ]. He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. [ Whatever house you enter ], stay there [ until you leave that town ].
[ If people do not welcome you ], leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” So they set out and went from village to village, [ proclaiming the good news ] and [ healing people everywhere ]. Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all [ that was going on ]. And he was perplexed [ because some were saying [ that John had been raised from the dead ], others [ that Elijah had appeared ], and still others [ that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life ]. But Herod said, “I beheaded John. Who, then, is this [ I hear such things about ]?” And he tried [ to see him ].