Bible in Poetry: Gospel of St. Matthew (Chapter 10)
Then Jesus summoned His disciples twelve,
Empowered them to drive out bad spirits,
And cure illnesses and all diseases.
The twelve apostles were (Peter) Simon,
His brother Andrew; James, Zebedee’s son;
His brother, John; Philip; Bartholomew;
Simon, the Canaanite; Thomas; Matthew,
Tax-collector; James, son of Alphaeus;
Judas Iscariot and Thaddeus.
Then Jesus sent the twelve advising thus:
Don’t enter Samaritan towns or go
Into territory that’s pagan also.
Redeem the sheep that’s lost from Israel’s house;
Proclaim, ‘The Kingdom is at hand, So Spouse! ’
‘You cure the sick and raise the dead alive;
You cleanse lepers and demons you, out drive;
When you’ve received without cost, you must give;
And without wealth, all life, you must all live.’
‘You should not take a sack for your journey,
A second dress, or stick, sandals, money!
The laborer keeps whatev’r he deserves;
Just worthy person in towns, he then serves;
Whenev’r you enter homes, you wish them peace;
If house be unworthy, let peace, then cease.’
‘If one receives you not or heeds your words,
Then leave that house or town, shake off feet’s dust.’
‘’Twill be, Amen, I say on Judgment Day,
Intolerable for that town anyway,
Than for the lands of Sodom, Gomorrah! ’
‘Behold, I send you like sheep amidst wolves,
So, be like serpents shrewd, simple like doves.
Beware of people handing you to courts,
And scourging you in synagogues by words.’
‘And you’ll be led before governors, kings,
As my witness ‘fore them, pagans, in strings.’
‘And when they hand you o’er, do not worry,
About the things to say or how to speak;
For, you’ll be told at that moment, those things.
And you’ll not speak but will Holy Spirit,
Through you, on your behalf, in manner fit.’
‘And brother hands over brother to death,
And so will father hand over his child,
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poem by John Celes
Added by Poetry Lover
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