Mark 3:15 tells us that Jesus gave the twelve disciples authority to heal sickness and to drive out demons. This was part of his purpose in choosing them: they were not only to be with him but to be sent out to act with his power. The verse is part of Mark’s account of how Jesus formed the first group of apostles, and the words are spoken by Jesus himself to the people who followed him and to the twelve he had chosen.
And to have authority to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons…
Mark 3:15 (WEB)
What Mark 3:15 Means
The verse is a continuation of the sentence that begins in verse 14, where Jesus appoints the twelve for two purposes: that they might be with him, and that he might send them out to preach. Verse 15 adds a third element. The word “authority” describes a delegated power, the right to act in another’s name. Jesus is not presenting the disciples as healers in their own right. They carry out his work because he has given them the standing to do it.
The two activities named, healing sicknesses and casting out demons, were the visible signs that the kingdom of God had come near. Mark’s Gospel shows Jesus doing these very things throughout the early chapters, so the verse links the disciples’ future work to what they have already seen him do. The verse does not promise that every believer will heal everyone who is sick, nor does it describe a formula anyone can use at will. It describes a commission given to a specific group at a specific moment in the story.
The Context of Mark 3:15
The Gospel of Mark is the shortest of the four Gospels and is traditionally associated with John Mark, a companion of Peter. Its style is brisk and vivid, and it was likely written for a readership in the wider Greek-speaking church, perhaps in or near Rome. Mark moves quickly from one scene to the next, so the moments of teaching and healing are sharply drawn. Verses 12 through 18 belong to a stretch where Jesus, having faced growing opposition and crowds pressing around him, withdraws to a mountain and calls the twelve.
The verses just before this one show Jesus warning the unclean spirits not to reveal who he is, and the verses after it list the twelve by name. Read in that setting, verse 15 is not a stand-alone promise but the hinge of the passage: the choosing of the twelve, the purpose of their calling, and the power that will make their mission possible. The authority is grounded in the one who called them, which is why the disciples’ work in the rest of Mark is always shown as a continuation of Jesus’ own ministry.
Key Phrases in Mark 3:15
Matthew 10:1
He called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.
(WEB)
Matthew records the same commissioning of the twelve and describes Jesus giving them authority over unclean spirits and to heal every disease. Reading the two accounts side by side confirms the core content of the commission and shows how different Gospels highlight different details of the same moment.
Luke 9:1
He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.
(WEB)
Luke’s version gives the twelve power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and then sends them to proclaim the kingdom of God. It shows the same pattern of authority, healing, and proclamation, reinforcing that the disciples’ work is connected to the message of God’s reign.
A Short Prayer From Mark 3:15
Lord Jesus, you called your first followers not only to be near you but to be sent out in your name. Thank you that you choose ordinary people and give them a share in your work. Give me a willing heart when you ask me to serve, and remind me that the power to act comes from you and not from my own strength. Show me where I can bring your care to someone who is hurting, and let my faithfulness reflect your love. Amen.
