“And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;”
My Notes
What Does Mark 6:7 Mean?
"And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits." Jesus SENDS the twelve — the first mission. They go in PAIRS (two by two), and they carry POWER over unclean spirits. The sending is structured (pairs, not individuals), empowered (authority given, not assumed), and specific (unclean spirits as the initial target). The mission is organized, authorized, and focused.
The phrase "began to send them forth" (ērxato autous apostellein — He began to send them out) uses 'began' (ērxato) to mark a NEW PHASE: this is the BEGINNING of the apostolic mission. Before this, the twelve FOLLOWED. Now they're SENT. The transition from followers to missionaries begins here. The apprenticeship shifts to deployment. The learning phase starts producing the doing phase.
The "by two and two" (duo duo — two two) establishes the PARTNERSHIP model: nobody goes alone. The mission is paired. The witness is doubled. The support is mutual. The 'two by two' provides accountability (no solo ministry), corroboration (two witnesses are stronger than one), and support (the pair sustains each other through difficulty). The pairing is the structure. The structure is the wisdom.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What has Jesus sent you to do — and are you going with a partner or alone?
- 2.What does the transition from following to sending teach about the sequence of discipleship?
- 3.Why does nobody go alone (two by two) — and what does that mean for your ministry?
- 4.What power has been GIVEN to you for the specific mission you've been sent on?
Devotional
He called them. He sent them. TWO BY TWO. And gave them power over unclean spirits. The first mission is structured: pairs, not solos. Empowered: authority given, not assumed. Focused: unclean spirits as the target. The sending is as organized as it is supernatural.
The 'began to send them forth' marks the TRANSITION: up to this point, the twelve were STUDENTS — following, watching, listening, learning. Now they're SENT — deployed, commissioned, given a mission. The verb 'began' means this is the FIRST TIME. The missionary phase of their calling starts HERE. The following prepared them. The sending deploys them. The classroom shifts to the field.
The 'two by two' is the PARTNERSHIP principle: nobody goes alone. The mission is never solo. Every apostle has a partner — for support, for accountability, for corroborated witness, for mutual encouragement when the mission gets hard. The pairing says: this work is too important and too dangerous for isolation. The mission requires companionship. The sending includes community.
The 'gave them power over unclean spirits' is the EMPOWERMENT that makes the mission possible: the twelve don't go in their own authority. They go in GIVEN authority. The power is a GIFT — bestowed by Jesus, delegated to the sent ones, authorized for a specific target. The power isn't inherent. It's granted. The authority isn't assumed. It's assigned. You can't do the mission without the power. And the power comes from the one who sends.
What has Jesus sent you to do — and did you go with a partner and the power He gave?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And he called unto him the twelve,.... "His twelve disciples", as some copies read; whom he had before called by his…
And he called unto him the twelve - See the notes at Mat 10:1. And began to send them forth by two and two - In order…
By two and two - That they might encourage and support each other; and to show that union among the ministers of the…
Here is, I. The commission given to the twelve apostles, to preach and work miracles; it is the same which we had more…
Mission of the Twelve
7. he called Rather, He calleth unto Him.
two and two St Mark alone records this. They were sent…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture