Matthew 10:1-4
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Jesus doesn't just give his disciples power; he delegates His own authority. This means their ability to heal and cast out spirits wasn't just a skill they learned, but a direct impartation of divine power, demonstrating that Jesus’ own mission and authority were being channeled through them.
And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following Jesus' prayer for more laborers, he calls his chosen twelve disciples, establishing them as his core team. He commissions them for their first mission, granting them spiritual and physical authority to confront demonic forces and heal sickness, signaling the expansion of his ministry through them. This act mirrors the symbolic importance of the number twelve, linking them to the tribes of Israel and the foundation of the new spiritual community.
Jesus doesn't just gather followers; He commissions them. What does it mean that He 'gave them authority'?
This verse marks a pivotal moment where Jesus officially delegates authority to His inner circle, the twelve disciples. They aren't just learners anymore; they are sent out with specific power.
Delegated Power
The Greek word translated as 'authority' (exousia) signifies more than just permission. It implies a rightful power, a God-given mandate to act. Jesus, who possesses all authority, shares this with His chosen few.
Twofold Mission
This authority is explicitly given for two key purposes:
This dual focus highlights that Jesus' mission—and by extension, the mission He gives His disciples—addresses both the spiritual and physical realms. It's a holistic restoration.
Notice how the text says He 'gave them authority,' not that they earned it or developed it themselves. It's a gift, a commission.
Why 'twelve' disciples? This number wasn't random. It echoes Israel's past and points to a future restoration.
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The choice of precisely twelve disciples is deeply symbolic, weaving together the history of Israel and the vision for God's new people.
Echoes of Israel
Just as there were twelve tribes of Israel, founded by twelve patriarchs, Jesus appoints twelve apostles. This signifies that He is establishing a new covenant community that parallels and fulfills the original covenant people.
Foundation for the New Community
These twelve are set apart to be foundational figures for the nascent Church. They represent the continuity and the new beginning of God's redemptive plan.
A New Beginning
Their commission to heal and cast out spirits is a tangible demonstration of God's kingdom breaking into the world, bringing wholeness and freedom, much like the promised restoration of Israel.
Notice how the number 'twelve' immediately evokes the twelve tribes of Israel, connecting Jesus' mission to His people's history.
Understand the original words
mathētēs · Greek Noun
Refers to a pupil or learner who follows a teacher to learn their doctrine and way of life; in the New Testament, it denotes a committed follower of Jesus.
exousia · Greek Noun
The legal right, power, or authorization to act on behalf of another; in this context, it is the power granted by Jesus to exercise his own dominion over the spiritual and physical realms.
akathartos pneumata · Greek Adjective
Spiritual beings opposed to God who inhabit or influence people; they are recognized by their moral impurity and rebellion against the holiness of God.
apostolos · Greek Noun
One who is sent out with a specific mission or commission; in the New Testament, it signifies those officially appointed by Jesus as his primary representatives and ambassadors.
telōnēs · Greek Noun
A term used for a person who collected taxes for the Roman government; they were often viewed by fellow Jews as collaborators, traitors, and ceremonially unclean.
zēlōtēs · Greek Noun
A descriptor for a group in first-century Judaism characterized by intense zeal for the Law of Moses and often associated with militant opposition to Roman occupation.
paradidōmi · Greek Verb
To deliver someone to an enemy; in the context of Judas, it refers to the act of treachery where he handed Jesus over to the authorities to be arrested.
This event marks a crucial moment where Jesus formally equips His chosen disciples with divine authority, mirroring the structure of Israel's twelve tribes and preparing them for their specific mission to proclaim His kingdom.
c. AD 28— this verse
Jesus Calls the Twelve
Jesus calls twelve specific disciples to be His closest followers, symbolically representing the future leadership of the new Israel.
c. AD 28-30
Jesus' Ministry and Teachings
Jesus travels throughout Galilee and Judea, preaching, teaching, and performing miracles, drawing large crowds and attracting a following.
c. AD 30
The Great Commission (First Phase)
Jesus commissions the twelve disciples, giving them specific authority to cast out demons and heal diseases, empowering them for their mission within Israel.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Suffering, Death, and Resurrection
Jesus is crucified and rises from the dead, a pivotal event that validates His claims and empowers His followers for a wider mission.
c. AD 30s
The Early Church and Spread of the Gospel
Following Jesus' ascension, the apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit, preach the gospel beyond Israel, establishing the early Christian church.
This passage parallels Matthew 10:1 by detailing Jesus sending out the twelve disciples, specifically noting that he sent them out 'two by two,' highlighting a practical aspect of their mission and authority.
Luke 9:1Luke's account mirrors Matthew's commission, emphasizing that Jesus 'gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases,' reinforcing the dual nature of the authority given to the disciples.
Acts 1:8This verse shows the disciples receiving power from the Holy Spirit for witness, which is a direct continuation and expansion of the authority they received in Matthew 10:1, empowering them for a broader mission.
1 Corinthians 12:10This passage lists 'gifts of healing' and 'working of miracles' among the spiritual gifts bestowed by the Spirit, connecting the authoritative acts of Jesus' disciples in Matthew 10:1 to the ongoing work of the Spirit in the church.
Revelation 21:14The foundation of the New Jerusalem is described as having the names of the twelve apostles, symbolically linking the foundational work of these twelve disciples, commissioned in Matthew 10:1, to God's eternal plan.
barnesMatthew 10:1: "And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease."
And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples ... - This account of sending the apostles forth is recorded also in Mark 6:7-11 , and Luke 9:1-6 . Mark says that he sent them out two and two. This was a kind arrangement, that each one might have a companion, and that thus they might visit more plac…
bensonMatthew 10:1: "And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease."
Matthew 10:1 . And when he had called his twelve disciples — From the evangelist’s naming them the twelve, it appears that he considered them as elected before this, though he has given no account of it in his gospel. The number seems to have relation to the twelve patriarchs and the twelve tribes of Isr…
Jesus doesn't just give his disciples power; he delegates His own authority. This means their ability to heal and cast out spirits wasn't just a skill they learned, but a direct impartation of divine power, demonstrating that Jesus’ own mission and authority were being channeled through them.
Following Jesus' prayer for more laborers, he calls his chosen twelve disciples, establishing them as his core team. He commissions them for their first mission, granting them spiritual and physical authority to confront demonic forces and heal sickness, signaling the expansion of his ministry through them. This act mirrors the symbolic importance of the number twelve, linking them to the tribes of Israel and the foundation of the new spiritual community.
Following Jesus' prayer for more laborers, he calls his chosen twelve disciples, establishing them as his core team. He commissions them for their first mission, granting them spiritual and physical authority to confront demonic forces and heal sickness, signaling the expansion of his ministry through them. This act mirrors the symbolic importance of the number twelve, linking them to the tribes of Israel and the foundation of the new spiritual community.
"And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and An…" — Jesus doesn't just give his disciples power; he delegates His own authority. This means their ability to heal and cast out spirits wasn't just a skill they learned, but a direct impartation of divi…
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Last reviewed October 2026
