Mark 6:7

Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jesus calls the Twelve near and begins sending them out two by two after teaching in the villages and encountering their unbelief. He commissions them with authority over unclean spirits before giving travel instructions.

The words — προσκαλεῖται (proskaleitai) means He calls near, and ἤρξατο (ērxato) means He began. These terms mark the deliberate initiation of the mission rather than a spontaneous departure.

The thread — The authority over unclean spirits parallels Matthew 10:1, while the two-by-two pairing echoes Ecclesiastes 4:9. Luke 10:17 records the seventy-two later reporting that demons submit to them, not the initial delegation.

Why it lands — The text states Jesus actively delegates spiritual authority and pairs the Twelve for their mission. Readers must acknowledge that effective ministry requires both granted power and structured partnership.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ΚαὶKaiAnd προσκαλεῖταιproskaleitaiHe calls near τοὺςtousthe δώδεκαdōdekaTwelve καὶkaiand ἤρξατοērxatoHe began αὐτοὺςautousthem ἀποστέλλεινapostelleinto send forth δύοduotwo δύοduo[by] two καὶkaiand ἐδίδουedidouHe was gaving αὐτοῖςautoisto them ἐξουσίανexousianauthority τῶνtōnover the πνευμάτωνpneumatōnspirits τῶνtōn<the>ἀκαθάρτωνakathartōnunclean

King James Version

And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

Cross-references

Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.
Matthew 10:1 And calling His twelve disciples to Him, Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits, so that they could drive them out and heal every disease and sickness.
Luke 10:17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.”
Luke 9:1 Then Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and power to cure diseases.
Luke 6:13 When daylight came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated as apostles:
Luke 10:1 After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to visit.
Luke 10:3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.
Revelation 11:3 And I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
Matthew 10:9 Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts.
Mark 3:13 Then Jesus went up on the mountain and called for those He wanted, and they came to Him.