city, shake off the dust from your feet for a testimony against
them. 6 And they departed, and went throughout the villages,
preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere.

7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done: and he was
much perplexed, because that it was said by some, that John was
risen from the dead; 8 and by some, that Elijah had appeared; and
by others, that one of the old prophets was risen again. 9 And
Herod said, John I beheaded: but who is this, about whom I hear
such things? And he sought to see him.

As Jesus sent forth his twelve disciples on their first mission he was
entering the closing period of his ministry in Galilee. Until now the
apostles had been his companions; henceforth they were to be more strictly
messengers and representatives. Jesus foresaw his approaching rejection
and death, but before leaving for Jerusalem and the cross he wished to
offer himself once more to the people of Galilee among whom he had long
been laboring; and for this purpose he sent out the Twelve. Their
circumstances and the directions given them by Jesus were peculiar to the
time and occasion. However, these commands are not without application to
the messengers of the Master in all ages of the world. They were given
"power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases." Such
miraculous gifts were limited to their own day and were designed as
credentials of their mission. It is true, however, that those who
represent Christ must ever be concerned for the mental and physical
conditions of mankind, even though the great purpose is to bring a message
of spiritual import. The latter was, of course, the great purpose of the
apostles. They went forth "to preach the kingdom of God," as well as "to
heal the sick."

When Christ commanded the disciples to take nothing for their journey, he
did not intend to impose needless hardships or even to suggest peculiar
denial. He rather intimated the principle that his heralds must not be
encumbered with worldly cares and burdens and that those who proclaim his
gospel may expect to be supported by those to whom the message is
preached.

In advising the disciples to remain in the first home where they were
properly received, he indicated the wisdom of having a fixed center for
their work, of being content with their entertainment and surroundings,
and of avoiding social complications which might hinder their work. They
were in