Matthew 10:1 Meaning and Explanation
“And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus calls his twelve disciples and gives them authority over unclean spirits and power to heal every kind of sickness.
What Does Matthew 10:1 Mean?
After teaching the crowds and feeling compassion for them as sheep without a shepherd, Jesus gathers the twelve he has chosen and prepares to send them out. Before they go, he equips them, handing over the very authority he himself has been exercising over disease and unclean spirits.
What the disciples are given, they receive. The power is not their own; it flows from the One who calls them by name. This is the pattern of all true ministry: Christ first draws his servants near, then commissions them, then enables them. The same hands that healed now extend their reach through those he sends, so that his mercy might touch towns he had not yet entered.
Matthew 10:1 in the Original Language
exousia (ἐξουσία), 'power' -- delegated authority granted by another, not strength seized on one's own.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 10:1
What does Matthew 10:1 mean?
Jesus calls his twelve disciples and gives them authority over unclean spirits and power to heal every kind of sickness.