And He *summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the 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.
- KJV And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over 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.
- 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 labor.
- Matt 10:1–5He called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.
- Luke 10:17–20The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”
- Luke 9:1–6He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.
- Luke 10:3–12Go your ways. Behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.
- Luke 6:13–16When it was day, he called his disciples, and from them he chose twelve, whom he also named apostles:
- Rev 11:3I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
- Luke 10:1Now after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every city and place, where he was about to come.
- Mark 3:13–14He went up into the mountain, and called to himself those whom he wanted, and they went to him.
- Matt 10:9–14Don’t take any gold, silver, or brass in your money belts.
- Mark 16:17These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new languages;
- Exod 4:14–15Yahweh’s anger burned against Moses, and he said, “What about Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Also, behold, he comes out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.
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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
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