10. But if the people of a town refuse to welcome you, go out into the street and say,
11. “We are shaking the dust from our feet as a warning to you. And you can be sure that God's kingdom will soon be here!”
12. I tell you that on the day of judgment the people of Sodom will get off easier than the people of that town!
13. You people of Chorazin are in for trouble! You people of Bethsaida are also in for trouble! If the miracles that took place in your towns had happened in Tyre and Sidon, the people there would have turned to God long ago. They would have dressed in sackcloth and put ashes on their heads.
14. On the day of judgment the people of Tyre and Sidon will get off easier than you will.
15. People of Capernaum, do you think you will be honoured in heaven? Well, you will go down to hell!
16. My followers, whoever listens to you is listening to me. Anyone who says “No” to you is saying “No” to me. And anyone who says “No” to me is really saying “No” to the one who sent me.
17. When the seventy-two followers returned, they were excited and said, “Lord, even the demons obeyed when we spoke in your name!”
18. Jesus told them:I saw Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning.
19. I have given you the power to trample on snakes and scorpions and to defeat the power of your enemy Satan. Nothing can harm you.
20. But don't be happy because evil spirits obey you. Be happy that your names are written in heaven!
21. At that same time, Jesus felt the joy that comes from the Holy Spirit, and he said:My Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I am grateful that you hid all this from wise and educated people and showed it to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that is what pleased you.
22. My Father has given me everything, and he is the only one who knows the Son. The only one who really knows the Father is the Son. But the Son wants to tell others about the Father, so that they can know him too.
23. Jesus then turned to his disciples and said to them in private, “You are really blessed to see what you see!
24. Many prophets and kings were eager to see what you see and to hear what you hear. But I tell you that they did not see or hear.”