# Where is “Take up your cross and follow me” in the Bible?

> “Take up your cross and follow me” is Matthew 16:24.

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/take-up-your-cross-and-follow-me
By Andrew Kittridge · November 10, 2026

Jesus says it to his disciples, right after he first tells them he will be killed.

## The verse

> Then Jesus told his disciples, “Anyone who wishes to come after me must deny themselves, pick up their cross, and follow me.
>
> — [Matthew 16:24](https://www.lumin.faith/read/matthew/16#24) (Lumin Translation)

English Bibles word this verse in different ways. The Lumin Translation, a modern English Bible, is quoted here.

## What it means there

A cross was for execution. A person carrying one was on the way to die. Jesus is saying that following him means giving up your claim on your own life.

## Also in the Bible

> He called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said to them, “If anyone wants to come after me, they must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me.
>
> — [Mark 8:34](https://www.lumin.faith/read/mark/8#34) (Lumin Translation)

> Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to come after me, they must deny themselves, take up their cross every day, and follow me.
>
> — [Luke 9:23](https://www.lumin.faith/read/luke/9#23) (Lumin Translation)

## Common questions

### Where is “Take up your cross and follow me” in the Bible?

“Take up your cross and follow me” is Matthew 16:24. English Bibles word this verse in different ways. The Lumin Translation, a modern English Bible, is quoted here. Jesus says it to his disciples, right after he first tells them he will be killed.

### Is “Take up your cross and follow me” in the Bible?

Yes. It is Matthew 16:24, and also Mark 8:34 and Luke 9:23. In the Lumin Translation, Matthew 16:24 reads: “Then Jesus told his disciples, “Anyone who wishes to come after me must deny themselves, pick up their cross, and follow me.”

### Who said “Take up your cross and follow me”?

Jesus says it to his disciples, right after he first tells them he will be killed.

### What does “Take up your cross and follow me” mean in the Bible?

A cross was for execution. A person carrying one was on the way to die. Jesus is saying that following him means giving up your claim on your own life.

## More

- [Where is “Go and make disciples of all nations” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/go-and-make-disciples-of-all-nations.md)
- [Where is “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/believe-in-the-lord-jesus-and-you-will-be-saved.md)
- [Where is “Nothing can separate us from the love of God” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/nothing-can-separate-us-from-the-love-of-god.md)
- [Where is “God chose the foolish things to shame the wise” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/god-chose-the-foolish-things-to-shame-the-wise.md)
- [Where is “Love never fails” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/love-never-fails.md)
- [Where is “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/do-not-be-unequally-yoked-with-unbelievers.md)
- [Where is “By grace you have been saved through faith” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/by-grace-you-have-been-saved-through-faith.md)
- [Where is “He who began a good work in you” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/he-who-began-a-good-work-in-you.md)
- [Check any word or a whole song](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-verse-checker)