and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus didn't just send them to announce good news; He commissioned them to embody it. The command to "heal the sick" wasn't secondary to preaching, but was the tangible demonstration that God's kingdom, with its power to restore and mend, had truly arrived and was accessible through them.
and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is commissioning his twelve disciples for their first major outreach mission. He grants them supernatural authority to overcome evil spirits and heal diseases, equipping them not just with a message, but with tangible power. This immediate act of sending them out to proclaim God's kingdom and heal the sick sets the stage for a powerful demonstration of the Gospel's impact.
Jesus didn't just talk about the Kingdom of God; He sent his followers to demonstrate it. What does it mean to announce its arrival?
When Jesus sent out the twelve disciples, He commissioned them with a twofold purpose: to 'proclaim the kingdom of God' and to 'heal.' This wasn't just a passive announcement; it was an active demonstration.
A Kingdom Revealed
The 'kingdom of God' wasn't a distant, future concept for Jesus. He spoke of it as something that was at hand, and He empowered his disciples to reveal its presence through their words and actions. This kingdom is characterized by God's rule and reign, impacting every area of life.
Words and Works Together
The proclamation of the kingdom was intrinsically linked to its demonstration through healing. The miracles served as tangible proof that God's reign was breaking into the world, bringing restoration and wholeness where there was sickness and brokenness. It showed that God's power was not distant, but present and active through His messengers.
The disciples were sent out with incredible power. Where did that authority come from, and what does it mean for us?
Jesus didn't just send the disciples out; He 'gave them power and authority.' This wasn't a delegated authority based on their own merit, but a direct impartation from Christ himself.
Divine Empowerment
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The power to cast out demons and heal diseases was not inherent in the disciples. It was a gift, a temporary empowerment from Jesus for this specific mission. It highlights that the advance of God's kingdom is not dependent on human strength or wisdom, but on the power God provides.
A Seal of Truth
These miraculous acts served as a powerful confirmation of the message the disciples were carrying. They were a visible sign that the message about the kingdom of God was true and backed by divine power. This authority silenced opposition and authenticated the messengers.
Understand the original words
basileia tou Theou · Greek Noun
The sovereign reign and active rule of God over all creation and specifically within the hearts of those who believe. It is both a present spiritual reality and a future kingdom to be fully consummated.
therapeuō · Greek Verb
To restore to wholeness or health, often used in the New Testament to describe the miraculous removal of sickness or infirmity as a sign of the kingdom's presence.
This mission was a crucial, albeit temporary, preparatory phase, empowering Jesus' disciples to both demonstrate and proclaim the reality of God's kingdom before the greater outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost.
c. AD 28
Jesus Calls the Twelve Apostles
Jesus selects twelve of his followers to be his closest companions and apostles, empowering them with authority over spiritual and physical ailments.
c. AD 28— this verse
The Twelve are Sent Out
Jesus commissions the twelve apostles, sending them out in pairs to proclaim the coming of God's kingdom and to demonstrate its power by healing the sick.
c. AD 28-30
Jesus' Galilean Ministry
The apostles carry out their mission in various towns and villages throughout Galilee, mirroring Jesus' own ministry of teaching and healing.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Passion and Resurrection
Following the mission of the twelve, Jesus faces his arrest, trial, crucifixion, and ultimately, resurrection, signifying the ultimate victory of God's kingdom.
c. AD 33
Pentecost and the Holy Spirit
After Jesus' ascension, the Holy Spirit empowers the apostles, enabling them to preach the Gospel to all nations and continue the work of healing.
This passage directly parallels Jesus' instruction to his disciples, commanding them to 'preach, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”'
Mark 6:12This verse describes the disciples' mission in parallel with Luke's account, noting that 'they went out and preached that people should repent' and 'cast out many demons and anointed with oil many sick people, and healed them.'
Isaiah 61:1This Old Testament prophecy speaks of a coming anointed one who 'will proclaim good news to the poor,' 'bind up the brokenhearted,' and 'proclaim liberty to the captives,' which Jesus was fulfilling through his disciples' ministry of preaching and healing.
1 Corinthians 12:28-30This passage highlights various gifts within the church, including gifts of healing and the working of miracles, demonstrating that the power Jesus gave his disciples to heal was part of a broader divine gifting for the advancement of God's kingdom.
expositorsLuke 9:2: "And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick."
2-43 Chapter 15THE KINGDOM OF GOD. IN considering the words of Jesus, if we may not be able to measure their depth or to scale their height, we can with absolute certainty discover their drift, and see in what direction they move, and we shall find that their orbit is an ellipse. Moving around the two centers, sin and salvation, they describe what is not a geometric figure, but a glorious reality, "the kingdom of G…
clarkeLuke 9:2: "And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick."
To preach the kingdom of God - For an explication of this phrase, see on Matthew 3:1 (note).
Jesus didn't just send them to announce good news; He commissioned them to embody it. The command to "heal the sick" wasn't secondary to preaching, but was the tangible demonstration that God's kingdom, with its power to restore and mend, had truly arrived and was accessible through them.
Jesus is commissioning his twelve disciples for their first major outreach mission. He grants them supernatural authority to overcome evil spirits and heal diseases, equipping them not just with a message, but with tangible power. This immediate act of sending them out to proclaim God's kingdom and heal the sick sets the stage for a powerful demonstration of the Gospel's impact.
Jesus is commissioning his twelve disciples for their first major outreach mission. He grants them supernatural authority to overcome evil spirits and heal diseases, equipping them not just with a message, but with tangible power. This immediate act of sending them out to proclaim God's kingdom and heal the sick sets the stage for a powerful demonstration of the Gospel's impact.
"and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal." — Jesus didn't just send them to announce good news; He commissioned them to embody it. The command to "heal the sick" wasn't secondary to preaching, but was the tangible demonstration that God's kingd…
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Last reviewed October 2026