These twelve. The Twelve, who thus far had assisted Jesus (see DA 349) in His ministry, were now to be sent forth to labor alone. They had been officially appointed as disciples during the summer of A.D. 29 (see on ch. 5:1), probably not more than six months previously (see on ch. 9:36). Peter, Andrew, James, and John had been called to full-time discipleship, probably in the late spring of A.D. 29 (see on Luke 5:1). Three of these — all except James — as well as Philip and Bartholomew, had been part-time disciples since the late autumn of A.D. 27 (see on John 1:35-45). All the Twelve had been with Jesus on His Second Galilean Tour, probably during the late summer or early autumn of A.D. 29 (see on Matt. 9:35; Luke 8:1), and had thus had opportunity to observe Christ’s methods, to listen to His teaching, and to profit by instructions He had given privately to His disciples from time to time. Now that the Twelve were sent out by themselves they went two by two (see Mark 6:7; see on ch. 3:14), brother with brother and friend with friend (DA 350).
Way of the Gentiles. Or, “the road of the Gentiles,” meaning any road that led to an essentially Gentile community. For instance, the Twelve would visit none of the cities of the Decapolis, which was largely Gentile in population. The basis for this restriction was probably that so long as there was opportunity to labor for the Jews, Jesus would do nothing that would unnecessarily prejudice them against Him. Furthermore, the disciples themselves were unprepared to labor for their Gentile neighbors, and the prejudice they shared with all Jews against the Gentiles would no doubt have effectively thwarted efforts they might have — unwillingly — put forth. The injunction against working among non-Jews was not placed upon the Seventy when they were sent out nearly a year later; in fact, they began their labors among the Samaritans (see DA 488). By that time the situation had changed; Jesus Himself, having been rejected by the people of Galilee, worked on behalf of both Samaritans and Gentiles, and instructed the disciples to do so also (see Matt. 28:19, 20; Acts 1:8).
City of the Samaritans. Concerning the Samaritans see pp. 18, 45. At Jacob’s Well Jesus had taken the initiative in extending to the Samaritans of Sychar an invitation to believe in Him as the Messiah (see John 4:4-42). However, there is no record of any further ministry by Jesus for Samaritans up to this time.
A final restriction as to territory permitted the Twelve to visit only those towns and villages where Christ Himself had already been (DA 351).
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