And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The disciples anointing the sick with oil wasn't just a medical act; it was a symbolic gesture pointing to God's healing power and comfort, much like the "oil of gladness" in Scripture. This act, distinct from Jesus' own methods, served as an outward sign demonstrating that their healing came from divine power, not just human effort.
And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just commissioned his twelve disciples, giving them authority to cast out demons and heal diseases, and sent them out in pairs with specific instructions to rely on God's provision. As they carry out this mission, they actively proclaim repentance and demonstrate God's power through supernatural acts, including casting out demons and healing the sick, with anointing oil serving as a symbolic sign of God's comfort and healing.
The disciples are described as casting out demons and healing the sick. But they also used oil in their ministry. What was the significance of this practice?
When Jesus sent out the twelve, He empowered them to perform miracles – casting out demons and healing the sick. This verse highlights both their actions and a specific practice: anointing with oil.
A Visible Sign of God's Power
While Jesus Himself sometimes used physical means (like mud for the blind man's eyes), the disciples’ use of oil was not just a common remedy. It was a symbolic act, pointing to God’s healing power and the spiritual grace being imparted. It was a visible sign that the healing they offered came directly from God, much like the 'oil of gladness' mentioned in Scripture.
Not Ordinary Medicine
It's important to distinguish this from mere medical treatment. The primary purpose was not to rely on the oil’s properties, but to use it as a tangible representation of the divine intervention that brought about healing and deliverance.
The disciples’ ministry described here was powerful and impactful. But was this exact ministry meant to last forever?
This passage describes a specific commission Jesus gave to the twelve apostles. They were sent out with unique authority to preach, cast out demons, and heal.
A Brief, Focused Assignment
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Commentators note that this particular mission, as described by Mark, appears to have been temporary. The disciples were sent out for a limited time, equipped for that specific task. They were not meant to carry on this exact ministry indefinitely in the same way.
A Seal of the Gospel
The power they wielded and the symbolic acts they performed served as a powerful confirmation of their message – that the Kingdom of God had come. This was a foundational moment in their training and in the early spread of the Gospel.
Understand the original words
daimonion · Greek Noun
Spiritual beings, malevolent in nature, who oppose God and oppress humanity. They are understood in Scripture as fallen angels subject to the authority of Jesus Christ.
elaion · Greek Noun
A substance often used in the ancient Near East and New Testament for medicinal purposes or as a symbolic act of consecration, setting apart, or invoking divine mercy and healing.
The mention of anointing with oil in this passage is unique to Mark among the Gospels. It highlights a specific, perhaps temporary, practice the apostles used, which later informed the instruction in James for the church to combine prayer with natural remedies like oil for healing.
c. AD 27-28— this verse
Jesus Commissions the Twelve Apostles
Jesus officially sends out His twelve closest followers, empowering them to preach, heal, and cast out demons. This marks a significant expansion of His ministry's reach.
c. AD 27-28
Apostles Preach and Heal in Villages
The Twelve travel in pairs throughout the villages of Galilee, announcing the coming of God's kingdom and demonstrating its power through miraculous acts.
c. AD 27-28
Herod Antipas' Rule in Galilee
Herod, the ruler of Galilee, is in power during Jesus' ministry. His kingdom is marked by political intrigue and eventual conflict with Rome.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry Culminates in Jerusalem
Following the Galilean ministry, Jesus travels to Jerusalem, where He is crucified and resurrected, establishing the foundation of the Christian faith.
c. AD 40s-50s
Early Church Spreads the Gospel
The apostles and other followers of Jesus begin to actively evangelize beyond Judea, carrying the message of repentance and healing to new regions.
c. AD 60-62
James Writes His Epistle
The letter of James, likely written to Jewish Christians, addresses practical matters of faith and includes instruction on anointing the sick with oil in conjunction with prayer.
This passage directly references anointing the sick with oil in the context of prayer for healing, drawing a clear parallel to the disciples' actions in Mark.
Luke 10:34The parable of the Good Samaritan shows oil being used as a soothing agent for wounds, illustrating the practical, comforting aspect of oil that might have been understood by the disciples and the people they ministered to.
Matthew 4:24This verse mentions Jesus healing all kinds of sickness and casting out demons, setting the precedent for the disciples' ministry and highlighting the dual nature of their mission: spiritual deliverance and physical healing.
1 Corinthians 12:9-10This passage lists various spiritual gifts, including gifts of healing and the working of miracles, which would have empowered the disciples to perform the very acts described in Mark 6:13.
pooleMark 6:13: "And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them."
See Poole on "Mark 6:12"
barnesMark 6:13: "And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them."
Cast out many devils - See the notes at Matthew 4:24 . And anointed with oil ... - Anointing with oil was in common use among the Jews in cases of sickness. It was supposed to have a mild, soothing, and alleviating effect on the body. In James 5:14, the elders of the church, in connection with prayer, were directed also to anoint the sick with "oil." See the notes at that passage. It was also…
The disciples anointing the sick with oil wasn't just a medical act; it was a symbolic gesture pointing to God's healing power and comfort, much like the "oil of gladness" in Scripture. This act, distinct from Jesus' own methods, served as an outward sign demonstrating that their healing came from divine power, not just human effort.
Jesus has just commissioned his twelve disciples, giving them authority to cast out demons and heal diseases, and sent them out in pairs with specific instructions to rely on God's provision. As they carry out this mission, they actively proclaim repentance and demonstrate God's power through supernatural acts, including casting out demons and healing the sick, with anointing oil serving as a symbolic sign of God's comfort and healing.
Jesus has just commissioned his twelve disciples, giving them authority to cast out demons and heal diseases, and sent them out in pairs with specific instructions to rely on God's provision. As they carry out this mission, they actively proclaim repentance and demonstrate God's power through supernatural acts, including casting out demons and healing the sick, with anointing oil serving as a symbolic sign of God's comfort and healing.
"And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them." — The disciples anointing the sick with oil wasn't just a medical act; it was a symbolic gesture pointing to God's healing power and comfort, much like the "oil of gladness" in Scripture. This act, dis…
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Last reviewed October 2026