"JESUS called HIS Twelve disciples to HIM, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out, and to heal every disease and sickness.
These are the names of the Twelve apostles: 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 Thaddaeus; Simon, the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, the man who would betray HIM.
JESUS sent these Twelve on mission, with the instructions: 'Do not visit pagan territory and do not enter a Samaritan town. Go, instead, to the lost sheep of the people of Israel.
Go, and proclaim this message: The kingdom of heaven is near.'" - Matthew 10:1-7
(Apostles mean "sent" and "mission" also means "being sent." The FATHER has sent HIS Son to earth, and the Son, in turn, sends HIS apostles. The FATHER sends messengers of HIS word, but HE also sends HIS Spirit to touch the hearts and minds of those who listen. Through the Spirit they recognize the word of GOD in the poor preaching of these messengers who have received no great instruction. The Spirit will give signs: healings and astounding graces supporting the witness of the missionaries.
The successors of the apostles will be missionaries like them. They will not be primarily the administrators of an established Church, but living poorly among the poor, they will establish new Churches [see 1 Corinthians 3:10; 12:28].
Do not visit pagan territory. Let us not forget that many pagan communities were established in Galilee together with the Jewish ones. JESUS follows HIS FATHER's plan of salvation as described in the Scriptures. The Savior should first gather the strayed sheep of Israel, and then bring salvation to all the pagan nations: Isaiah 49:6; 60:1-10; Zechariah 14:16; Matthew 15:24.)
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