<p>11:1<em>&nbsp;And it came to pass when Jesus had finished commanding his twelve disciples</em>- Vine feels that the&nbsp;<em>dia&nbsp;</em>in&nbsp;<em>diatasso</em>&nbsp;[&quot;commanding&quot;] suggests &quot;a distributive force: giving to each his appropriate charge&quot;. In this case we see the initial application of the parables about the servants being each given a specific work to do. That work was to preach to specific people whom the Lord intended for each of the disciples. Those parables apply to us- perhaps in that we are each intended to take the Gospel to specific individuals. If we fail in that work, there is no guarantee that the Lord will give that work to others; the harvest will simply not be gathered as it could have been.</p>
<p><em>He departed from there to teach and preach in their cities</em>- Without their presence (as they were away on their preaching tour), the Lord went to their home areas. He showed by this how He saw out witness amongst those whom we know and our families to be of the utmost importance- and He was and is willing and eager to back up our credibility in such witness.</p>