10.01.04 Mt. 10:1-4; Mk. 6:7 (See also Lk. 9:1-2)
DISCIPLES GIVEN POWER TO HEAL
Mt. 1 Summoning His 12 disciples, He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness. 2 These are the names of the 12 apostles:
First, Simon, who is called Peter,
and Andrew his brother;
James the son of Zebedee,
and John his brother;
3 Philip and Bartholomew;
Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;
James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot,
who also betrayed Him.
Mk. 7 He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs and gave them authority over unclean spirits.
“Disciples…apostles.” In verse 1 Jesus refers to the Twelve as “disciples” and in verse 2 as “apostles.” Later they are called “disciples” again. Jesus, the Master Teacher, knew that learning is most comprehensive when occasionally put into practice. These men were not being trained for the sake of learning, but trained for a purpose of expanding the Kingdom of God.
The ministry of the disciples was the same as that of their Master – to speak the Word and perform the works of the Kingdom of God. They were to be dependent on the hospitality of the villagers wherever they traveled, expecting God to provide for all their needs as they journeyed throughout the land.