In sending out his Apostles to preach the Gospel, Jesus did not give them a detailed picture of what to expect or detailed instructions how to deal with every possible situation that might arise. He gave them some fundamental instructions, especially the instruction to travel as poorly as possible. Along with this vocation to poverty, however, he also gave them a great power: authority over unclean spirits. Healing, including liberation from unclean spirits was a major part of Jesus own ministry. This gift of power over unclean spirits, then, was a sign that everything they were to do was to be seen as part of his own mission. Involvement in that mission inevitably entailed an experience of poverty, for Jesus' first work was to empty himself and come amongst us as a human being, born in poverty.

Though Mark does not say it specifically, they were to proclaim the Kingdom of God. They were not, however to try to force anyone to believe, they were to move on though somehow disassociating themselves from those who would not receive them.