Jesus called the disciples to him and gave them their mission. He gave them the authority and power to heal the sick and cast out evil spirits.
Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs to carry on his work. They travelled in pairs for protection on the road, and so that others would believe events had occurred because they were witnessed by another disciple.
The disciples were given instructions to travel light on their journeys and to rely on the kindness of those who took them in. They were to stay in the first house that welcomed them until they left that town. This meant that they would have to learn to depend on God for everything that they needed.
Jesus anticipated that the disciples would face rejection and criticism. He instructed them to shake the dust from their feet as they left if they faced rejection in a town. Jews would have routinely completed this action when leaving a gentileA person who is not Jewish. area. In this case, a Jew would be doing this action to a fellow Jew â showing how serious it was to have rejected God.