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It most likely happened in the second year of his ministry that Jesus sent out the twelve with a very specific assignment: proclaim the good news and heal people. However, the three Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke differ on exactly what this instruction of Jesus was about. Matthew emphasizes "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (10:5-6)." Mark emphasizes "began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits (6:7)." And, Luke's focus is "to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal (9:2)." And yet, all of them mention a special action that they should take as a testimony against those who reject them: to shake the dust off from their feet! What does this mean?

(References: Joel 2:18)