Luke 9:1

Hence also miracles were added to the holy preachers, so that the power displayed might give faith to their words, and that those who preached new things might do new things. When the world was flourishing, when the human race was increasing, when the flesh was subsisting long in this life, when the abundance of things was overflowing, who upon hearing would believe that there was another life? Who would prefer invisible things to visible things? But when the sick were returning to health, when the dead were rising to life, when lepers were receiving cleanliness of flesh, when demoniacs were snatched from the power of unclean spirits, with so many visible miracles performed, who would not believe what he heard about invisible things? For visible miracles shine forth for this purpose: that they may draw the hearts of those who see them to faith in invisible things, so that through what is done wondrously on the outside, what is within may be perceived to be far more wondrous. Hence now also, when the number of the faithful has increased, there are many within the holy Church who hold to a life of virtues but do not have the signs of virtues, because a miracle is shown outwardly in vain if what it should work inwardly is lacking. For according to the voice of the Teacher of the Gentiles: "Tongues are for a sign not to believers, but to unbelievers." Hence also that same distinguished preacher, amidst the words of his preaching, raised by praying, in the sight of all the unbelievers, Eutychus who had fallen asleep and fallen from the window and was completely extinguished from life. Coming to Malta, and knowing the island was full of unbelievers, he healed by praying the father of Publius who was afflicted with dysentery and fevers. […]

Fourth, the delegation of the instructed disciples is determined, first with regard to the Apostles, then with regard to the seventy. And Jesus, having called together the twelve, etc. The three principal parts of this section, which concerns the teaching of Jesus Christ, having been …

But Jesus, having called together the twelve apostles, gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. First granting them the power of signs, he sent them …

These, twelve in number, Jesus sent out, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and enter not into a city of the Samaritans: 6. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And when you have departed, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Christ designed a total rout and ruin to the kingdom of darkness, and therefore gave them power over all devils. He authorized and appointed them likewise to cure disease, and to heal the sick, which would make them welcome wherever they came, and not only convince people's judgments, but gain their affections. This was their commission.

Then he called his twelve disciples together,.... The Persic version reads, "all his twelve disciples", the other nine, besides the three that were with him, when he raised Jairus's daughter, recorded in the foregoing chapter; the Vulgate Latin, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions read, "the twelve apostles", for so Christ had named his disciples; See Gill on Mat 6:13. The Syriac version only reads, "his own twelve"; and this is agreeably to Luke's way of speaking; see Luk 8:

These verses contain our Lord's instructions to His twelve apostles, when He sent them forth the first time to preach the Gospel. The passage is one which throws much light on the work of Christian ministers in every age. No doubt the miraculous power which the apostles possessed, made their position very unlike that of any other body of men in the Church. No doubt, in many respects — they stood alone, and had no successors. Yet the words of our Lord in this place must not be confined entirely to the apostles.

These verses contain our Lord's instructions to His twelve apostles, when He sent them forth the first time to preach the Gospel. The passage is one which throws much light on the work of Christian ministers in every age. No doubt the miraculous power which the apostles possessed, made their position very unlike that of any other body of men in the Church. No doubt, in many respects — they stood alone, and had no successors. Yet the words of our Lord in this place must not be confined entirely to the apostles. They contain deep wisdom for Christian teachers and preachers, for all time. Let us observe, firstly — that the commission to the apostles contained special reference to the demons and bodily sickness . We read that Jesus gave them "authority over all demons, and to cure diseases." We see here, as in a looking-glass — two of the principal parts of the Christian minister's business. We must not expect him to cast out evil spirits — but we may fairly expect him to "resist the devil and all his works," and to keep up a constant warfare against the evil prince of this world. We must not expect him to work miraculous cures — but we may expect him to take a special interest in all sick people, to visit them, sympathize with them, and help them, if needful, as far as he can. The minister who neglects the sick members of his flock, is no true pastor. He must not be surprised if people say that he cares for the fleece of his sheep — more than for their health . Likewise, the minister who allows drunkenness, blasphemy, impurity, reveling, and the like, to go on among his congregation unreproved — is omitting a plain duty of his office. He is not warring against the devil. He is no true successor of the apostles. Let us observe, secondly — that one of the principal works which the apostles were commissioned to take up was preaching .

See the notes at Mat 10:1-14. See the notes at Mat 10:1-14.