A.T. Robertson Commentary John 17:18

"As thou didst send me into the world, even so sent I them into the world." — John 17:18 (ASV)

Sent I them (απεστειλα αυτους). The very verb (αποστελλω) used of the original commission of these men and the special commission (Luke 9:2) and the renewal of the commission after the resurrection (John 20:21f. , both αποστελλω and πεμπω here).