So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Their message wasn't just a general call to feel sorry; it was an urgent command to turn from their ways, a direct continuation of John the Baptist's radical summons. This proclamation was the core of their mission, with their miraculous deeds serving as powerful endorsements of this central truth.
So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just commissioned His twelve disciples, giving them authority to cast out demons and heal the sick, sending them out two by two with strict instructions for their journey. They immediately set out, continuing the message Jesus Himself had been proclaiming: the kingdom of God is near, and the necessary response is repentance.
When Jesus sent out His disciples, their primary message wasn't just a suggestion, but a command. What did they mean by 'repent,' and why was it so central?
The disciples' proclamation was a direct continuation of John the Baptist's message and Jesus' own teachings. Repentance, in this context, isn't just feeling bad about mistakes. It's a profound, internal shift that leads to outward action.
A Change of Mind and Heart
At its core, repentance means a 'change of mind.' It's a turning away from old ways of thinking and living that are contrary to God's will, and a turning toward Him. This isn't a passive experience; it's an active decision to reorient your entire life.
Fruits of Repentance
This internal change must manifest externally. As John the Baptist urged and as Jesus expected, repentance involves 'bringing forth fruits worthy of repentance'—demonstrating a transformed life through changed behavior, actions, and priorities. It's about a new direction, not just a moment of regret.
The disciples were sent out with specific instructions and amazing power. What does this temporary mission reveal about Jesus' strategy and their role?
This mission wasn't just a practice run; it was a strategic deployment by Jesus, equipping His closest followers with supernatural authority. The instructions given reveal key aspects of the Kingdom's advance.
Commissioned Authority
Jesus gave the Twelve 'power over unclean spirits.' This wasn't just a demonstration; it was a tangible sign that the spiritual powers opposing God's kingdom were being decisively confronted. Their message of repentance was backed by divine authority.
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Strategic Deployment
Sending them out 'by twos' provided mutual support and amplified their witness. The instructions about provisions (or lack thereof) and where to stay highlighted their dependence on God and the hospitality of those who received them. This mission was a focused, temporary campaign to announce the arrival of God's kingdom and call people to prepare for it through repentance, serving as a vital part of the disciples' training before Jesus' ascension.
Understand the original words
metanoeō · Greek Verb
A fundamental biblical term meaning to change one's mind, heart, and direction; it involves a turning away from sin and a turning toward God in faith. It is the primary response required by the proclamation of the gospel.
This mission of the Twelve was a crucial, albeit temporary, step in Jesus' ministry, extending His message of repentance and the coming kingdom to the villages through His chosen representatives.
c. AD 27-28
Jesus Begins Public Ministry
Jesus starts teaching, healing, and gathering disciples after His baptism and temptation in the wilderness.
c. AD 27-28
John the Baptist's Ministry of Repentance
John the Baptist preaches a message of repentance and baptizes people in the Jordan River, preparing the way for Jesus.
c. AD 28
Jesus Commissions the Twelve Apostles
Jesus formally appoints His twelve closest followers, giving them authority to preach and perform miracles.
c. AD 28— this verse
The Twelve Preach and Heal
The twelve apostles go out in pairs throughout the villages, proclaiming the kingdom of God and calling people to repent, while also casting out demons and healing the sick.
c. AD 28-29
Return of the Twelve
The apostles return to Jesus, reporting on their successful mission and sharing their experiences.
This passage echoes the core message of Mark 6:12 by stating that 'repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all nations.' It shows how the disciples' mission to preach repentance was a foundational part of Jesus' ongoing command to His followers.
Matthew 3:2This verse, referencing John the Baptist's message, directly parallels the disciples' proclamation: 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.' It highlights that repentance was the essential preparation for encountering God's kingdom, a theme central to the disciples' mission.
Acts 2:38Peter's powerful sermon after Pentecost commands, 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.' This demonstrates the lasting impact and continued emphasis on repentance as a response to the Gospel message preached by Jesus' emissaries.
Isaiah 55:6-7This Old Testament passage calls people to 'seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous his thoughts; let him return to the Lord.' It provides the prophetic backdrop to the disciples' call for repentance, emphasizing God's readiness to forgive those who turn back to Him.
pooleMark 6:12: "And they went out, and preached that men should repent."
Ver. 12,13. They executed both the trusts which Christ had reposed in them, preaching the gospel, and by miraculous operations confirming the doctrine which they brought to be from heaven. John Baptist, and Christ, and the twelve all preached the same doctrine, Repent; that is, turn from your former sinful courses, which if men do not, Christ’s coming will profit them nothing. And anointed with oil many that were sick. James d…
calvinMark 6:12-13: "And they went out, and preached that men should repent."
And they departed, and preached [1] that men should repent. 13. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many diseased persons, and healed them.
And they departed, and we went round about through the villages [2] preaching the Gospel, and healing everywhere.
Mark 6:12. And they departed, and preached. Matthew silently passes over what the Apostles did. Mark and Luke relate that they proceeded to execute…
Their message wasn't just a general call to feel sorry; it was an urgent command to turn from their ways, a direct continuation of John the Baptist's radical summons. This proclamation was the core of their mission, with their miraculous deeds serving as powerful endorsements of this central truth.
Jesus has just commissioned His twelve disciples, giving them authority to cast out demons and heal the sick, sending them out two by two with strict instructions for their journey. They immediately set out, continuing the message Jesus Himself had been proclaiming: the kingdom of God is near, and the necessary response is repentance.
Jesus has just commissioned His twelve disciples, giving them authority to cast out demons and heal the sick, sending them out two by two with strict instructions for their journey. They immediately set out, continuing the message Jesus Himself had been proclaiming: the kingdom of God is near, and the necessary response is repentance.
"So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent." — Their message wasn't just a general call to feel sorry; it was an urgent command to turn from their ways, a direct continuation of John the Baptist's radical summons. This proclamation was the core…
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Last reviewed October 2026