Wednesday Evening Bible Study

January 10, 2001

:1-6  The Twelve Sent

:1  Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

gave – didomi – to give; to give something to someone; to grant or permit one

power – dunamis – strength, power, ability

When Jesus healed the woman with the issue of blood:

(Luke 8:46 KJV)  And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

This is the same Greek word that was translated “virtue”.  The same power that Jesus healed others with, He now gives to His apostles.

authority – exousia – power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases; the power of authority (influence) and of right (privilege); the power of rule or government (the power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed)

The authority to command demons to come out of people.

diseases – nosos – disease, sickness

to cure – therapeuo – to serve, do service; to heal, cure, restore to health

:2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

sent – apostello – to order (one) to go to a place appointed

This is where the word “apostle” comes from.

to preach – kerusso – to be a herald, to officiate as a herald; to publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done

Lesson

You can preach too.

This is what the man who had been delivered by demons (Legion) had done:

(Luke 8:39 KJV)  Return to thine own house, and show how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

It’s interesting to me that this man had begun “preaching” before the apostles did.

We tend to think that “preaching” is meant for “professionals”.  Not so.  If Jesus has done something in your life, you can tell others about it.  That’s what “preaching” is all about.

to heal – iaomai – to cure, heal; to make whole

the sick – astheneo – to be weak, feeble, to be without strength, powerless; to be weak in means, needy, poor; to be feeble, sick

:3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.

take – airo – to raise up, elevate, lift up; to take upon one’s self and carry what has been raised up, to bear; to bear away what has been raised, carry off

journey – hodos – properly a way; a travelled way, road; a travellers way, journey, travelling

staves – rhabdos – a staff, a walking stick, a twig, rod, branch; a rod with which one is beaten; a staff; as used on a journey, or to lean upon, or by shepherds

scrip – pera – a wallet; a leathern sack, in which travellers and shepherds carried their provisions

money – argurion – silver; money; a silver coin, silver piece, a shekel

coats – chiton – a tunic, an undergarment, usually worn next to the skin, a garment, a vestment

It was a closely fitting under-garment, usually worn next the skin. At times, especially in working, it was the only garment worn. A person clothed only in the citwn was often called gumnov (naked) (#Joh 21:7). imation and citwn are often found associated as the upper and under garment respectively.

“neither have two pair of underwear”

When they were to go, they were to go depending completely on God to provide for their needs.

The idea is that the people they would be ministering to would be supporting the needs of the apostles.

(1 Tim 5:17-18 KJV)  Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. {18} For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

Lesson

It doesn’t take much to serve the Lord

I think sometimes we have some ideas that if we were to serve the Lord that we would need to have fulfilled a list of 45 different things. 

Sometimes our list is filled with things that are to make us comfortable.  But God just says “Go”.

Sometimes our list includes qualifications and abilities that we think are going to be important.  But God just says “Go”.

Jesus is going to teach these the guys that when God says “GO”, you can go.

:4 And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.

house – oikia – a house; an inhabited edifice, a dwelling

enter into – eiserchomai – to go out or come in: to enter

abide – meno – to remain, abide

depart – exerchomai – to go or come forth of

I think the idea is that you don’t go bouncing from house to house.  If someone invites you to stay with them, then stay with them until you are done in that city.

(Luke 9:4 NLT)  When you enter each village, be a guest in only one home.

:5 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.

receive – dechomai – to take with the hand; to take up, receive; to receive or grant access to, a visitor, not to refuse intercourse or friendship

go out – exerchomai – to go or come forth of

dust – koniortos – raised dust, flying dust; dust

shake off – apotinasso (“away from” + “to jostle”) – to shake off

A.T. Robertson:  Shake out, a rather violent gesture of disfavor. The Jews had violent prejudices against the smallest particles of Gentile dust, not as a purveyor of disease of which they did not know, but because it was regarded as the putrescence of death. If the apostles were mistreated by a host or hostess, they were to be treated as if they were Gentiles.

testimony – marturion – testimony

Lesson

Sometimes you need to drop it and move on.

The apostles Paul and Barnabas give us an example of doing this:

(Acts 13:44-52 KJV)  And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. {45} But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. {46} Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. {47} For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. {48} And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. {49} And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. {50} But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. {51} But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. {52} And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

We need to be sure to hear from God about this.

Sometimes God wants you to keep doing what you’re doing.

But sometimes you need to let go.

There can be a place where a person simply is not open to what God wants to do in their life, you and the gospel, and you shake off whatever dirt they've splattered you with, and move on.

Let God handle it from there.

:6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.

departed – exerchomai – to go or come forth of

went through – dierchomai – to go through, pass through; to go different places

preaching – euaggelizo – to bring good news, to announce glad tidings

healing – therapeuo – to serve, do service; to heal, cure, restore to health

God used the miracles as a way to confirm that what the apostles were saying was true:

(Heb 2:1-4 KJV)  Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. {2} For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; {3} How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; {4} God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

Does God still work like this today?  Yes.