Bible Strands
Matthew 10:5
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go onto the road of the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus issues a direct command to the twelve apostles he just enumerated, restricting their initial missionary route. He places them in a specific phase of his ministry before expanding their mandate later.
The words — παραγγείλας (parangeilas) translates literally as "having instructed" and marks the authoritative transfer of Jesus' directive to the disciples. ἀπέστειλεν (apesteilen) means "sent forth," emphasizing the commissioned nature of the mission.
The thread — The restriction against Samaritan and Gentile territories appears alongside the command to go only to Israel in Matthew 10:6. This boundary later reverses in Acts 22:21, where Paul receives a commission to go far away to the Gentiles.
Why it lands — The text demands immediate obedience to a temporary, geographically bounded commission before any broader mandate. Readers must recognize that divine instructions can shift according to a specific historical phase rather than serving as permanent universal rules.
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
King James Version
These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
Cross-references
- John 4:9 “You are a Jew,” said the woman. “How can You ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
- Acts 22:21 Then He said to me, ‘Go! I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
- 2 Kings 17:24 Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its towns.
- John 4:22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.
- Romans 15:8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs,
- 1 Thessalonians 2:16 hindering us from telling the Gentiles how they may be saved. As a result, they continue to heap up their sins to full capacity; the utmost wrath has come upon them.
- Luke 17:16 He fell facedown at Jesus’ feet in thanksgiving to Him—and he was a Samaritan.
- Luke 9:2 And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
- Acts 8:5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.
- Acts 10:45 All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.