Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him. Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, "Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' (Mt 10:1-7)
The passage begins with the content of the activities the twelve. Jesus gives them authority. This authority is over unclean spirits and the physical conditions of the people. Naturally, it is not a social or a civil authority but an authority from the divine. Jesus has come in the name of God and he is the son of God and it is this authority that he shares with his apostles.
He has chosen exactly twelve. In the biblical world the number twelve signifies totality. This is the first time in Matthew’s gospel they are called apostles. Jesus own belief was that God was working in him and God was restoring and renewing Israel. Israel had twelve tribes. The twelve apostles were part of the means through which God was renewing and restoring Israel for a new Exodus.
Probably that is why he tells the apostles not to go the gentiles. It is true that he had come for the salvation of all. He himself had said that the Gentiles would flood into the kingdom (8:11). After his resurrection Jesus would reverse his instruction and ask the apostles to go the Gentiles (28:19). But there is an immediate and urgent mission. Israel must hear the message first and they should be given chance first. God first fulfils his promise to Israel and the to the rest of creation.
