Luke 9:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"For He gave them power and authority over all demons and to heal diseases." It is essential to note, I urge you, that the incarnate Word of God transcends human limitations and radiates with divine majesty. It elevates human nature by granting dominion over unclean spirits to whomever He chooses and empowering them to heal those afflicted. God confers such capabilities upon whomever He wills, and it is solely His will that determines who can perform divine wonders and serve as vessels of grace from above; yet it is altogether impossible for them to bestow those gifts upon another. The majesty and grandeur of the supreme nature exist only in itself and nothing else. Whether speaking of an angel or archangel, or the thrones and dominions, or even the seraphim, one must wisely comprehend this: they possess an extraordinary power through divine grace, a gift so profound that it exceeds human articulation and cannot be derived from nature itself; yet it is unreasonable to suggest they can pass on these powers to others. Christ, being God and drawing from His own fullness as the Lord of glory and authority, alone confers these gifts. The grace given to the holy apostles is truly admirable; however, the generosity of the Giver surpasses all commendation, for He bestows upon them His very own glory. By this grace, humanity gains power over evil spirits, dismantling the pride once held by the devil; he is rendered powerless, and through the operation of the Holy Spirit, he is cast out with loud cries from those he once controlled. In the past, he boasted, saying, "I will take the whole world into my hand as a nest, and I will take it as eggs that remain; and no one shall flee from me, nor speak against me.” Yet he abandoned truth and lost hope, despite his arrogance over human frailty. The Lord of Hosts had rallied against him the bearers of holy proclamations. This was indeed forecast by a holy prophet, who stated concerning Satan and the holy leaders: "Suddenly those who bite you shall arise, and those who afflict you shall awake, and you shall be their prey." They bit at Satan, attempting to seize his glory, turning his spoils into a tribute for Christ through faith; this was their confrontation with Satan himself. Hence, it is evident that great power was granted to the holy apostles by Christ our Savior's will. "For He gave them power and authority over unclean spirits." Next, we ask where this celebrated and glorious grace descended upon humanity. The only-begotten Word of God bestowed this profound honor by becoming flesh and assuming our likeness. Thus, without relinquishing His divine majesty—performing works befitting God, while also becoming like us in flesh—He shattered Satan's power with His almighty word. By rebuking evil spirits, He enabled those on earth to do the same. I will substantiate this truth with certainty. The Savior rebuked unclean spirits; however, the Pharisees, in their disdain for His glory, audaciously claimed, "This man does not cast out demons himself, but through Beelzebub, the prince of demons." Yet the Savior chastised them for their words, acknowledging their mockery and misunderstanding, saying: "If I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges." The blessed disciples, as descendants of the Jews by lineage, instilled fear in Satan and his angels by vanquishing their power in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Further, Our Lord stated: "But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, the kingdom of God has come upon you." As the only-begotten Son of the Father and the Word, He is omnipotent; nothing is beyond His reach. Yet, by casting out evil spirits in human form, He showcased the triumph of human nature, bestowing it with divine glory, capable of overcoming even evil spirits. Hence, through Christ's expelling of demons, the kingdom of God was realized, as the fullness of divine majesty lies in overcoming Satan despite resistance. He enhanced His disciples with the authority and power over evil spirits and maladies. Did He honor them without reason and elevate them without justification? This is implausible, for it was vitally essential that, as publicly appointed ministers of sacred proclamations, they should possess the ability to perform miracles, demonstrating to humanity their roles as God’s ministers and mediators available to all in Heaven, urging them to be reconciled and justified through faith and showing the path of salvation and life. Pious and rational individuals typically require only sound reasoning to grasp the truth; nevertheless, those who have strayed, unwilling to heed the wise counsel of those who seek to guide them, demand miracles and signs, and even then, their conviction is hard to attain. The conversations of the holy apostles exemplified this reality. For instance, Peter and John healed a lame man at the beautiful gate. Upon his entrance into the temple, they together testified as if a great miracle had occurred and boldly proclaimed Christ, our Savior, even in the face of opposition from the Jewish rulers. They declared, "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this, or why do you look at us as if by our own power or righteousness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Son Jesus, whom you betrayed and denied before Pilate when he intended to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked him to give you a murderer. But you killed the Prince of Life, whom God raised from the dead. And of Him we are witnesses; and His Name, through faith in His Name, has made strong this man whom you see and know, and faith in Him has given him this strength in the presence of you all." Despite the anger many Jews felt at such an exalted proclamation, their outrage was curbed, so to speak, by the overwhelming magnitude of the miracle.

The Lord recognized the importance of equipping them with the knowledge of their ministerial responsibilities and challenges.

He had demonstrated how they could adapt to human dispositions for greater efficacy in their mission, but practical experience would be even more beneficial. While they were not yet fully prepared for the apostolic calling with much still to learn, their initial message would primarily focus on the announcement that the kingdom of God was near, a message that both John and Jesus had begun to share. To enhance their preaching, the Lord bestowed upon them the ability to heal ailments, which served as a sign that the Savior was indeed present.

We recall that when disciples of John approached with inquiries, the Savior pointed to the signs of His miraculous works. By empowering the apostles to perform miracles, the Lord instructed them to refrain from worrying about travel provisions; they required no bag, extra clothing, or money, as their needs would be met by those they encountered in their preaching. Furthermore, they were not to carry anything unnecessary, for He sent them only to the towns of His fellow Israelites, specifically to places where He had not yet visited. Among the Gentiles and Samaritans, they were not yet to engage.

As He sent them forth, the Lord provided guidance. They were reminded that divine gifts should be shared freely, just as He did not seek any compensation for His actions. Just as God Himself operates without receiving anything from humanity, they were to perform their ministry as servants of God.

The Evangelist Mark succinctly recounts the sending of the Apostles, while also complementing the more detailed narrative provided by the Evangelist Matthew: Jesus did not send out all the Apostles at once, nor did He dispatch each one individually, but instead sent them out two by two. He did this not only to maximize their outreach but also to ensure they could support one another in their ministry, encouraging belief through their shared testimony, as the Law of Moses required at least two witnesses to affirm the truth of a matter.

When Jesus sent the Apostles to proclaim the Gospel, He was aware that they would be asked for signs and evidence of their divine commissioning. Therefore, He bestowed upon them authority over unclean spirits, granting them the ability to cast them out, heal the sick, cleanse lepers, and raise the dead. In conferring such authority, He aims to temper their pride and admonish them against greed. To prevent them from assuming that the miracles they perform are a result of their own righteousness and becoming arrogant, He instructed them, "You give nothing of your own to those who receive you; you did not obtain these gifts as payment for work: they are my grace. Therefore, share freely with others, recognizing that no price could ever match the worth of these gifts." As it is written, "Freely you have received, freely give."

At this time, Jesus directed His Apostles specifically to the Jews and prohibited them from venturing to the Gentiles or Samaritans, urging, "Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." He reminded them, "Do not think that because they revile Me and accuse Me of being possessed, I hold any animosity or disdain for them. Instead, I seek to correct them before others, which is why I command you to refrain from going to other nations; to them I send you as instructors and healers." The prophets had foretold the coming of the Messiah to the Jewish people, hence, it was fitting that this same people, and no others, should herald the approach of the Messiah-Christ.

They were instructed to focus their efforts on the lost sheep of the house of Israel, refraining from outreach to the Samaritans and Gentiles. Their message was to center on the imminent arrival of the kingdom of heaven, accompanied by acts of miracles and compassion.

It is likely that the Lord provided directives for both the twelve and the seventy when sending them out to proclaim the message—though not simultaneously—and that these instructions were quite similar due to the comparable circumstances and intentions behind them. Matthew, who did not focus on the seventy disciples, gathered all of Christ's teachings regarding the apostles’ ministry, articulating them in the words of Christ more extensively than Luke does in his account of this and the other commissions. Therefore, the narratives of Mark and Luke need to be complemented by Matthew's details. The phrase "Having called" refers to the commissioning of the apostles (see note on Matthew 10:1, Mark 6:7-8). The directive "To preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick" highlights the dual mission of proclamation and healing, which also encompasses delivering those afflicted by unclean spirits. The instruction "Take nothing" refers to specific guidance regarding their provisions (see Notes on Matthew 10:9-10, Mark 6:8-9). The passage "And if they will not receive you" addresses the response of those who reject their message (see Notes on Matthew 10:14, Mark 6:11).