The Story

What were the people called who listened to the Lord and learned of Him? His disciples. How many did He choose and call apostles? How many of their names do you remember? The apostles were simple, ignorant men to whom the Lord gave power and wisdom to do His work. He called them to Him in Capernaum or near by and sent them two and two together through the towns of Galilee with power to cast out devils and to heal diseases.

They must keep in mind that they had no power of themselves, but must always remember that the Lord was their strength. To help to remember this they were to take nothing for their journey. Remember David's script, his shepherd's bag into which he put the five stones when he went against Goliath. (1 Samuel 17:40) They were to take no bag, as if they could lay up strength for themselves. They should not have two coats. They should take no staves or nothing more than a staff. All this would help them to think of the Lord every day, and to remember that all the strength they had was every day from Him. It is for the same reason that the Lord teaches us to pray for our daily bread.

They were not to stay long in a place, nor to go to this house and that to make themselves comfortable. But they were to be about their Father's business, carrying the Lord's message and His healing power to those who needed it. But if they were not received, as they left that house or town they were to shake off the dust from their feet. This meant that where people were not good, and would not listen to the Lord, the apostles should let nothing of those people's evil ways cling to them.

After a time the apostles came together again to the Lord in the old familiar place by the Gennesaret shore, "and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught."

Meantime Herod had heard of the Lord and was perplexed to know who He was. This was Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee and of the district east of Jordan. We learned of this Herod in Luke 3:19, 20, and how he shut up John in prison. You read the story of John's death in Matthew 14:1-12 and Mark 6:14-29. Herod desired to see the Lord. Did he ever see Him? (Luke 23:6-9.)

1. How many apostles did the Lord appoint? What power did He give them when He' sent them out?

2. How were they provided for their journey?

3. What were they to do where they were not received?

4. Tell me about Herod and John the Baptist. About Herod and the Lord.

In the charge to take nothing for their journey you see the duty to be poor in spirit, to acknowledge that we have nothing of our own, and to depend for strength upon the Lord. In studying particulars of the charge, read A. 4677, 9942. Singleness of thought and purpose in the service of the Lord is especially suggested by the command not to have two coats, and not to go from house to house. The coat represents thought and intelligence, the clothing of the mind, and the house represents the affection in which one dwells. There must be singleness in both. Compare Mark 9:47; Luke 11:34. (A.9927)

Herod and John the Baptist are several times mentioned together in the Gospels, and stand opposed to each other. A good king represents truth ruling in the mind; but Herod, called by the Lord "that fox," represents deceit and falsity excusing and justifying evil. Such falsity is the enemy of the Divine truth condemning evil, of which John is the type. It opposes and destroys it. And for that reason the false, deceitful mind cannot understand the Lord; He can be known by the mind which is opened by repentance. "John have I beheaded: but who is this?" (Matthew 21:23-27; Luke 7:29, 30)

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