Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 6:7

"And he calleth unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits;" — Mark 6:7 (ASV)

Jesus had already been preparing his disciples for this mission. He had called them with his promise, “I will make you fishers of men” (1:17). He had withdrawn on several occasions to give them special attention (3:7, 13; 4:10), and they had witnessed his mighty acts and listened to his wise words. Now it was time for them to be sent out (cf. 3:14–15). The word used here for “sending” (GK 690) carries with it the idea of official representation; their message and deeds were to be an extension of his own. He sent them out “two by two,” apparently a Jewish custom (cf. 11:1; 14:13; Acts 13:2), so that the truthfulness of their testimony about Jesus might be established “on the testimony of two or three witnesses” . The Twelve were given power over evil spirits. Mark especially highlights Jesus’ power to exorcise demons.