Luke 9:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

‘For He gave them, it is said, power and authority over all demons and to heal diseases.’ Let us take note that the incarnate Word of God exceeds the boundaries of humanity and radiates with the honor inherent to the divine nature. He transcends human limitations, conferring authority over unclean spirits to whomever He chooses, and empowering the afflicted to receive healing from their ailments. Indeed, God alone decides to bestow such abilities; it is solely His divine will that permits certain individuals to perform miraculous works, serving as instruments of heavenly grace. However, it is utterly impossible for them to transfer the gifts they have received to others. The immense grandeur and majesty of the supreme being reside solely within the divine essence, and nothing else can partake in it. Whether one speaks of angels, archangels, thrones, dominions, or seraphim—each of these possesses a distinct honor due to the divine authority conferred upon them from above, a power that defies description and exceeds the gifts of creation. Yet reason must prevent the belief that they transmit these powers to others. Rather, Christ, being God, imparts these gifts directly from His own fullness, for He is indeed the Lord of glory and might.

The grace granted to the holy apostles is deserving of profound admiration; however, the generosity of the Giver is beyond all praise, for He shares with them His own glory. Humanity gains power over malevolent spirits, dismantling the arrogance that was once so elevated, even by the devil himself: through divine intervention, the schemes of evil are rendered powerless, and by the Holy Spirit’s might, he is compelled to flee amid cries of despair from those he had oppressed. In times past, the adversary boasted: ‘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 misjudged his strength and fell short of his ambitions, even as he lifted himself above mankind's frailty, for the Lord of Hosts had summoned the ministers of divine proclamations against him. This was foretold by one of the holy prophets when he remarked regarding Satan and the holy heralds: ‘Suddenly those who bite you shall arise, and those who afflict you shall awake, and you shall be their prey.’ The apostles, so to speak, engaged the foe, seizing his spoils and leading them to Christ through their faith. Thus, the authority bestowed upon the holy apostles by Christ, our Savior, is remarkably significant. ‘For He gave them power and authority over unclean spirits.’

Next, we might consider the source from which this famed and glorious grace flowed to humanity. The only-begotten Word of God endowed human nature with this profound honor by becoming incarnate and adopting our form. Consequently, without relinquishing His majestic glory—since He performed deeds befitting of the divine, despite taking on our flesh and blood—He vanquished the power of Satan through His almighty command. As He rebuked evil spirits, the inhabitants of the earth became empowered to do the same. To affirm this truth, consider that the Savior openly rebuked unclean spirits; however, the Pharisees, in their mockery of His divine glory, dared to claim, ‘This man does not cast out demons himself, but through Beelzebub, the prince of demons.’ In response, the Savior admonished them for their ignorant jesting, 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, the Jewish descendants by lineage, instilled fear in Satan and his angels, for they dismantled the adversaries' authority in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Furthermore, our Lord asserted: ‘But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, the kingdom of God has come upon you.’ For He, being the only begotten Son and the Word of the Father, is all-powerful, with nothing beyond His grasp; yet, casting out demons in human form, He brought the human experience to victory and graced it with divine glory, enabling it to drive out even the forces of evil.

Through Christ's act of exorcising demons, the kingdom of God was revealed to us, as the ultimate expression of divine majesty is the ability to conquer Satan regardless of his resistance. Thus, He honored His disciples by endowing them with authority and might over evil spirits and diseases. Did He confer such honor frivolously? Certainly not; it is crucial that they, as clearly appointed ministers of divine truths, wield the ability to perform miracles, thereby affirming their roles as messengers of God and intermediaries for all people, inviting everyone to reconciliation and justification through faith, while showing the path to salvation and life. Reasonable individuals generally require only an argument to grasp the truth; however, those who are lost and reluctant to accept sound instruction often need miracles and signs to validate their belief, and even then, it is a challenge to secure their unwavering trust. This was evident in the ministry of the holy Apostles. For example, Peter and John healed a lame man by the beautiful gate, and upon his entrance into the temple, they bore witness to a great work achieved, boldly proclaiming Christ, our Savior, even as the synagogue's rulers plotted against Him. 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 wanted 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 outrage of many Jews at such lofty declarations, they hesitated, so to speak, to express their resentment, taken aback by the magnitude of the miracle.

However, superstition emerged and created a rift between the present and the original. One who falters perceives a vast chasm, feels dizziness, and experiences blurred vision, causing the Lord and the holy Apostles to seem enshrouded in darkness that appears impenetrable. And for this individual, it is fitting: let them see the consequences of their actions, as they are left with a shattered spirit. Their inability to perceive the light while dwelling in darkness is a truth that cannot be denied—yet who is to blame? They have allowed themselves to become clouded and continue to do so. So far, they have not articulated anything that would render the words of the New Testament Scriptures unworthy of being regarded as the true teachings of the holy Apostles and the Lord Himself. Instead, they incessantly lament, “I cannot see, I cannot see.” We affirm, indeed, we believe that you do not see! But cease projecting your fog around; clear the atmosphere, and the light of God may break through, allowing you to witness the truth. “But that would mean losing my identity.” What a tragedy! Yet, you must halt; others will find peace. “No, it cannot be done. I am resolute about my place until the end of time, anticipating the arrival of the most adept. I commenced in the first created thought, even before this visible realm, and I will continue, like a tempest, pursuing the paths of truth and stirring up dust against it.” However, you are merely clouding your own vision, while the world is illuminated. “No, I will obscure the vision of everyone; and even if I do not succeed, they will recognize me for who I truly am. I shall remain vocal, and your truths will never silence me.” Who is unaware of this? Everyone understands that your foremost designation is ‘pisma’ (Greek)—stubbornly asserting your stance despite the evident truths that expose your fallacies. You stand in opposition to the Holy Spirit; thus, await the fulfillment of the judgment already decreed by the Lord.

He demonstrated how they should adapt to the hearts of the people to increase their effectiveness. However, practical experience was even more critical. Although they were not yet fully ready for their apostolic role, their message at that moment could largely revolve around the announcement that the kingdom of God was approaching, a message that both John and Jesus had introduced. To support this proclamation, the Lord endowed them with the ability to heal, serving as a significant sign that the Savior had indeed arrived. It is noteworthy that when John’s disciples inquired, the Savior referred them to His miracles. Empowering the apostles with the ability to perform wonders, the Lord instructed them to set aside concerns about travel preparations—no bags, extra garments, or money were needed; their needs would be met by those they encountered. They were not to carry anything excessive, as He sent them only to the towns of His own people and to places He had not yet visited. They were not yet to venture among Gentiles or Samaritans. In sending them forth, the Lord provided guidance, emphasizing that the gifts from God were to be shared freely. Just as He had not taken anything for Himself, He expected His disciples to do the same. As God serves without seeking compensation, so were they to fulfill their service unto Him.

He opted for pairs so that they could offer mutual support and encouragement, enhancing the credibility of their message to the Jews, as the Law of Moses required at least two witnesses to affirm the truth of a claim.

When Jesus commissioned the apostles to preach, He understood that they would be asked for signs that proved their divine mission, thus He endowed them with authority over unclean spirits, enabling them to cast them out as well as to heal the sick, cleanse lepers, and raise the dead. By bestowing such power, “He diminishes their pride and cautions them against greed. And so that they do not think their miraculous deeds stem from their righteousness and become arrogant, He declares, ‘You provide nothing of your own to those who receive you; these gifts were not given as a reward for your efforts but are part of my grace. Therefore, give freely to others, for no price can adequately reflect the value of these gifts” (St. John Chrysostom). “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). At this time, Jesus directed His Apostles solely to the Jews, even instructing them to avoid the Gentiles and Samaritans: “go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 10:6). “Do not suppose,” He says, “that because they revile Me and accuse Me of being possessed, I bear any contempt for them; rather, I strive to bring them to correction and prevent you from going to other nations; to them, I send you as teachers and healers.” The prophets foretold the coming of the Messiah to the Jewish people; thus, it was only fitting that this same group, and not another, should proclaim His arrival before the Messiah-Christ actually came.

They were to focus solely on the lost sheep of the house of Israel, refraining from reaching out to the Samaritans and Gentiles. Their message was to center on the imminent arrival of the kingdom of heaven, supported by acts of miracles and kindness.

It is likely that during both commissions—the sending of the twelve and the seventy—the Lord provided guidance regarding their ministry and conduct, and these instructions were likely similar, given the comparable circumstances and intentions behind both missions. Matthew, focusing solely on the apostles, detailed all of Christ’s teachings related to their preaching efforts, presenting them as direct words from Christ, while providing a more comprehensive exposition than Luke does with his accounts of commissioning the disciples. Therefore, Matthew’s narratives should serve to enrich the accounts found in Mark and Luke.

The phrase ‘Having called’ refers to the moment of commissioning (see note on Matthew 10:1, Mark 6:7-8). The purpose of their mission is delineated as ‘To preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick,’ indicating a dual objective of proclamation and healing, which includes the deliverance of those afflicted by unclean spirits. The directive ‘Take nothing’ and others concerning their journey can also be explored through Matthew 10:9-10 and Mark 6:8-9. The passage continues with instructions for when they encounter rejection, as detailed in the notes on Matthew 10:14 and Mark 6:11.