On the whole, it can be said that the first verses of Chapter 9 (Luke, 9: 1-6) are a summary of the main ideas of the entire Gospel of Luke. Even more, it makes the connection to other passages from the Gospel while at the same time explains in a more explicit manner their meaning. This is due in fact to the comprehensive, yet concise way in which the most important ideas are expressed, ideas that had been mentioned and developed before in the biblical text.

Firstly, the focal points that are mentioned relate to the authority with which the apostles were invested by Jesus. They have been given the "power and authority over all demons." (Luke, 9: 1) This idea however is seen before in the Gospel of Luke. Thus, the theme of exorcising demons is present also in Luke 4:33-37, which presents Jesus and one of His Acts in a synagogue "And Jesus rebuked him, saying: Hold thy peace and go out of him. And when the devil had thrown him into the midst, he went out of him and hurt him not at all." (Luke, 4:35) Similarly, the idea is present in Luke 8: 26-39. In Luke 9:1, the apostles were invested with the same authority. This comes to prove that which proves that the passage can be interpreted as being a connection between different dispersed passages from the Gospel.

Secondly, Luke points out that Jesus gave the apostles the power and duty to preach the Kingdom of God. (Luke, 9:2) However, such an endeavor is mentioned before in the Gospel; the apostles themselves had accompanied Jesus in His mission of preaching "And it came to pass afterwards he traveled through the cities and towns, preaching and evangelizing the kingdom of God: and the twelve with him" (Luke, 8:1) in Chapter 9 though,...

(Luke, 9:6)
Finally, the mission of the apostles also meant healing the sick. (Luke, 9:2) This is in accordance with the mission Jesus had of helping those in need and thus, He in His turn, to accomplish God's will. Nonetheless, seeing that this is in fact one of the cornerstones of the care God has for His people, it is only natural that the protection and healing of the sick be mention throughout the Gospel. Thus, Luke tells about Jesus' miracles, "laying his hands on every one of them (all they that had any sick with divers diseases), healed them" (Luke, 4:40). Also, He healed a man full of leprosy, (Luke, 5: 12-13) of palsy, (Luke, 17-18). Jesus, in Chapter 9 gives the apostles the power to heal men such as he had done on a Sabbath in a synagogue. (Luke, 6:6-10) These similarities add to the idea that the passage is in fact a summary of the main directions the apostles must engage in order to serve the command of the Lord.

The passage sums up the gospel as a whole because it points out the most important ideas of the entire biblical text. On the one hand, it shows Jesus and his role in the city which is, at a symbolic level, the image of human kind. It makes the clear distinction between believers and those unfaithful who refuse to hear the Lord's worlds, a distinction that is present throughout the Bible. Most importantly however, it underlines and at the same time summarizes the role of the apostles, that of curing diseases, healing everywhere, and preaching the Kingdom of God.

Bibliography

The Holy Bible: containing the…