Luke 9:1 Meaning: Power and Authority
He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.
Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
And he called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.
And having called together his twelve disciples, he gave them power and authority over all the demons, and to cure sicknesses,
And having called together the twelve, he gave them power and authority over all demons, and to heal diseases,
Meaning in one sentence
Luke 9:1 shows Jesus giving the twelve disciples both power and authority over demons and diseases. Learn the difference and what it means for ministry today.
Context
Luke 9 opens at a turning point. Jesus had been healing and teaching throughout Galilee, and the crowds were growing. Now He calls the Twelve to Him and prepares to send them out on their first mission without His physical presence. Matthew's Gospel tells us Jesus felt compassion for the people, who were like sheep without a shepherd. The Twelve were not trained clergy or scholars; they were fishermen, a tax collector, and other ordinary men. Yet Jesus gave them the capacity and the right to do what only He had been doing: cast out demons and heal the sick. They would go as His representatives, carrying His authority. This commissioning marks a shift from Jesus working alone to inviting others to share in His work.
Key Words
The Greek text uses two different words here, and the distinction matters. Dunamis means power in the sense of inherent ability, the capacity to do something. Exousia means authority, the delegated right to act. Jesus gave them both: He equipped them with the ability to perform miracles, and He authorized them to do so in His name. The word for “heal” is therapeuein, which originally meant to serve or tend, like a servant caring for a master. So their healing was an act of service, not a display of personal power. Jesus was not handing over a magic formula. He was inviting ordinary people to join His work, and making sure they had everything they needed for it.
How Christians Read This Verse
How Christians have understood this commissioning varies with emphasis. Many traditions read the gift of power and authority as foundational for apostolic ministry: the Twelve were given a unique role to establish the early church. Catholic teaching sees the apostles as the first bishops, whose authority passes through ordination. Protestant churches often emphasize that while the specific sign gifts were temporary, the pattern of being sent with God's power and authority continues for all believers. Pentecostal and charismatic Christians point to this verse as evidence that Jesus still gives power over demons to those who minister in His name. Despite these differences, all agree that Jesus did not send the disciples empty-handed.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume that power and authority are the same thing in this verse. In fact, Luke carefully distinguishes dunamis (the ability to perform a miracle) from exousia (the official right to do so). A person might have the ability to heal but not be authorized to act on behalf of Christ. Jesus gave both to the Twelve. This distinction matters because it shows that ministry is not just about raw spiritual power; it must be done under Christ's delegated authority.
Living This Out
You may not be sent to cast out demons or heal diseases, but you have been sent into your own small world: your household, your workplace, your neighbourhood. Jesus does not send you without resources. Whatever He asks of you today, a kind word to a struggling friend, patience with a difficult person, a quiet act of generosity, He gives you both the ability and the right to do it in His name. The question is not whether you are equipped. The question is whether you will go.
Main takeaway: Jesus gave the Twelve both the ability and the authority to do His work, and He still sends His people equipped for what He asks.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jesus called His twelve special helpers together. He gave them power and authority to help sick people and tell everyone about God's love.
For ages 9, 12
Imagine being one of Jesus' disciples. You were just an ordinary person, but Jesus was about to send you out to do amazing things. He didn't just say 'go', He gave you the ability and the right to do it. When Jesus sends us, He always gives us what we need.
Questions People Ask
What is the difference between power and authority in Luke 9:1?
Power (dunamis) is the inherent ability to do something, like the strength to lift a heavy weight. Authority (exousia) is the right to use that power, like having permission to act on someone else's behalf. Jesus gave the disciples both.
Were only the Twelve given this power over demons?
The Twelve were commissioned for a specific mission at that time. Later, Jesus also sent out seventy-two others (Luke 10:1, 9, 17-19). Many Christians believe that authority over evil continues through the Church, though traditions differ on how it operates today.
Why did Jesus send them out without provisions?
In Luke 9:3, Jesus tells them to take nothing for the journey. This taught them to depend entirely on God's provision through the people they served. It was a lesson in trust, not a permanent rule.
Does Luke 9:1 mean Christians today can heal diseases?
Christians have understood this differently. Some see healing as a special gift that continues. Others believe healing was a sign for the apostolic age to confirm the gospel. Most agree that God still heals in answer to prayer, though not always in the way we expect.
What does 'all demons' mean in this verse?
The phrase 'all demons' likely refers to every kind of evil spirit, not necessarily every individual demon in the world. It assures the disciples that no spiritual power is beyond Christ's authority. They faced no force that could ultimately resist the authority Jesus gave them.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study