And he called the twelve; and began to send them two and two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.
και προσκαλειται τους δωδεκα και ηρξατο αυτους αποστελλειν δυο δυο και εδιδου αυτοις εξουσιαν των πνευματων των ακαθαρτων
7 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Moreover, He not only imparted His teachings but also commissioned His disciples to go forth in pairs, which would bolster their courage. Had He dispatched them individually, it might have led to a lack of boldness in their actions, and sending out more than two would have resulted in an insufficient number of apostles for all the towns. Thus, He chose to send them two by two: "Two are better than one," as stated in Ecclesiastes (Ecclesiastes 4:9).
From these private and transient situations, we can understand why the Lord made His presence known to the public at times and chose to remain hidden at others. He instructed silence in certain instances, yet openly proclaimed the healing of the woman afflicted with bleeding. When He crossed over to the other side of the Lake of Gennesaret and liberated the man tormented by demons, He commanded that His own message be shared. All of this unfolds within the context of the private circumstances and individuals He encountered. He consistently addressed the personal needs of the people. This offered valuable insights to the apostles; through these experiences, they could learn how to connect with those they would serve.
The Lord recognized the importance of teaching them the responsibilities and challenges of their ministry. He had adequately demonstrated how they should adapt to human inclinations for effective ministry, but practical experience was even more beneficial for their growth. While they were not fully prepared for their apostolic calling and had much still to comprehend, their preaching was to remain primarily focused on declaring that the kingdom of God was near, as had been initiated by both John and Jesus. To support this proclamation, the Lord empowered them to heal illnesses, which served as a symbolic indication that the Savior was present. Let us recall that when John’s disciples inquired, the Savior directed them to His miraculous works. Upon granting miracle-working authority to the apostles, the Lord instructed them to forgo any concerns regarding travel preparations; they were to carry no bag, extra garments, or money. All they needed would be provided by those they preached to. There was no need for excess, as He limited their mission to the towns of His own people, specifically to areas where He had not yet traveled. They were not yet to engage with Gentiles or Samaritans. In sending them forth, the Lord imparted guidance, instructing them that divine gifts were to be shared freely. Just as He refrained from taking anything for Himself, He desired His followers to operate similarly. Just as God serves without demanding anything from humanity, so too should they fulfill the service of the Lord.
The core message preached by the apostles is communicated by the evangelists in a remarkably similar manner. All of them affirm that for the purpose of spreading the Gospel, Christ bestowed upon the apostles the authority to heal various illnesses and to cast out afflictions. Christ empowered the apostles to cure all types of ailments and to expel evil spirits, granting them the grace of the Holy Spirit as well as the gift of healing (1 Cor. 12:9). Additionally, Mark notes that the apostles employed a visible sign during their healing, specifically the anointing with oil. He also adds that Christ sent the apostles out in pairs (v. 7). In this context, Matthew provides a comprehensive account of the instructions given by Christ to the apostles. In stark contrast, Mark and Luke present these directives in a much more concise manner. The latter only reference Matthew 9-15 and mention the interpretation of Matthew 10:1-42.
The Evangelist Mark offers a succinct account of the Apostles' commissioning, which is complemented by the more elaborate narrative provided by the Evangelist Matthew. Jesus did not send out all the Apostles at once or individually, but rather in pairs (Mark 6:7). This arrangement was intentional; He chose to send them two by two to foster mutual support and encouragement, which would enhance the credibility of their witness among the Jews. This practice aligns with the Mosaic law, which stipulates that at least two witnesses are required to establish the truth of a matter. The names of all the Apostles are provided by the Evangelist Matthew.
When Christ commissioned the Apostles to proclaim the Gospel, He anticipated that they would be asked for signs confirming their mission. Therefore, He bestowed upon them the authority to exorcise unclean spirits, heal the sick, cleanse lepers, and raise the dead. This authority serves to remind them of their humility and to guard against greed. To prevent any pride in their miraculous works, He instructed them, "You give nothing of your own to those who receive you; you did not receive these gifts as a reward or for your labor: they are my grace. So also give to others, because it is impossible to find a price worthy of these gifts" (St. John Chrysostom, Interpretation on the Gospel of Matthew). He concluded with the directive, "Freely you have received, freely give" (Mt. 10:8).
After journeying extensively throughout Palestine, the Savior recognized that His chosen people were spiritually adrift, lacking appropriate leaders and guides to illuminate their understanding and ready them to inherit the imminent kingdom of heaven. He observed that they were “weary and scattered like sheep without a shepherd.” In response to this reality, He instructed His disciples about the abundant harvest yet emphasized the scarcity of laborers. Therefore, He urged them to beseech the Lord of the harvest to raise up suitable workers from among them. Following this, He sent them out in pairs to every corner of the land to instruct the people, affirm His teachings, and perform miraculous deeds in His name.
The account of the apostles being sent to proclaim the Gospel, along with the directives provided to them, is described thoroughly in the Hebrew Gospel of Matthew (ch. Mt. 10). In contrast, Mark presents a more concise version, highlighting only the key aspects of these instructions while also including some elements found in Matthew's narrative. According to Matthew, this marks the initial occasion when the Savior delegates the task of preaching to the apostles in His absence, training them to operate independently. The instruction to send them out "two by two" signifies the Lord's wisdom and kindness.
Given that this mission was new for the apostles, it was considered safer and more effective for them to work in pairs; mutual support would bolster their confidence in this endeavor, as Theophilus notes: “He sends two by two, that they may be bolder; otherwise, if He had sent them one by one, one would not have been so bold to act.” The Lord’s strategy of sending them out in small groups aimed at maximizing their reach, allowing the apostles to share His message with a broader audience.
The rationale for this practice can be linked to the fundamental principle found in Moses’ Law (Deut. 19:15), which stipulates that the testimony of at least two witnesses is essential to establish the truth of any matter. The apostles' ministry was to serve as a witness against the Jews should they remain unrepentant, as referenced in Mark 6:11 and Matthew 10:18, thereby validating the truth of their teachings. In following this principle from the Mosaic Law concerning witnesses, the two letters of testimony fulfilled the requirement; thus, should the Jews reject this message, they would find themselves vulnerable to their own legal standards, either left without a defense or held accountable for their disbelief.
Mark’s Gospel does not include the directive given by the Lord that the apostles should refrain from visiting the Gentiles until the appointed time. This omission may stem from the fact that his audience was primarily Gentile believers, and he likely sought to avoid causing confusion by referencing a command that would later be rescinded (Matt. 28:16).
Up to this point, the Apostles had journeyed with Jesus Christ, absorbed His teachings, and witnessed the miraculous works that confirmed His Divine nature. However, after empowering them to expel unclean spirits and heal various ailments, He sent them forth to proclaim the Gospel alone. St. John Chrysostom notes that “as young chicks accustomed to flying,” He provided them the broadest scope for their endeavors, tailored to their capabilities, facilitating their progress towards more significant tasks. Initially, He assigned them the role of healers of the body, preparing them for the greater responsibility of tending to the souls.
The Apostles were instructed to preach in pairs, not only to bolster their courage, as Blessed Theophylact elaborates, but also to fulfill the legal requirement that necessitated two witnesses to authenticate the truth (Deuteronomy 19:15). In His parting guidance, Jesus shared protocols for managing challenging situations they would encounter. Since the moment had not yet arrived to address the Gentiles, the Lord advised them to avoid even the pathways leading to their lands or entering Samaritan cities, directing them instead toward the strayed sheep of the house of Israel. Israel held the privileges of adoption, glory, covenants, the law, ministry, and promises (Rom. 9:4), being the first to receive the call into Christ's kingdom.
He commanded them to proclaim, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand; heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.” He sought to temper their arrogance and caution them against greed, teaching, “You give nothing of your own to those who receive you; you did not acquire these gifts as compensation for your efforts; they are My grace—therefore, offer them freely, as no price can adequately reflect their value.”
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 18 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS