10:1–4 Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. The distinction between exorcism and healing suggests that they are two different functions. This is the first mention of the twelve disciples in Matthew. He assumes they are known to the reader. That there are twelve disciples follows from the fact that they represent the new Israel: the twelve tribes of Israel find their counterpart in the twelve disciples. Interestingly, there were twelve members in the Qumran council as well (1QS 7.1ff.).

The disciples are here (v. 2) called apostles (the only occurrence of the word in Matthew). An apostle was one who was “sent on a mission” (Gk. apostellō). Beare holds that the title denoted a charismatic functio…