11. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law became very angry. They said to each other, “What can we do to Jesus?”
12. At that time Jesus went off to a mountain to pray. He stayed there all night, praying to God.
13. The next morning, Jesus called his followers to him. He chose 12 of them, whom he named “apostles.” They were
14. Simon (Jesus named him Peter) and Andrew, Peter’s brother; James and John, Philip and Bartholomew;
15. Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon (called the Zealot),
16. Judas son of James and Judas Iscariot. This Judas was the one who gave Jesus to his enemies.
17. Jesus and the apostles came down from the mountain. Jesus stood on level ground where there was a large group of his followers. Also, there were many people from all around Judea, Jerusalem, and the seacoast cities of Tyre and Sidon.
18. They all came to hear Jesus teach and to be healed of their sicknesses. He healed those who were troubled by evil spirits.
19. All the people were trying to touch Jesus, because power was coming from him and healing them all!
20. Jesus looked at his followers and said,“Poor people, you are happy,because God’s kingdom belongs to you.