And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;
Parallel translations
- WEB He called to himself the twelve, and began to send them out two by two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
- BSB Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.
- NKJV And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.
- NASB And He *summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits;
- NLT And he called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus sends out the twelve, two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.
Overview
Jesus extends his ministry through his disciples, equipping them to preach and to confront demonic power. Sending them in pairs provides mutual support and credible witness. This commissioning anticipates the church's mission to proclaim the kingdom in Christ's authority.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Eccl 4:9–10Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
- Matt 10:1–5And 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.
- Luke 10:17–20And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
- Luke 9:1–6Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
- Luke 10:3–12Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
- Luke 6:13–16And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
- Rev 11:3And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
- Luke 10:1After these things the LORD appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
- Mark 3:13–14And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.
- Matt 10:9–14Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
- Mark 16:17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
- Exod 4:14–15And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 6:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.