And He appointed twelve, so that they might be with Him and so that He might send them out to preach.
This verse reveals the essential purpose and order of apostolic ministry. First it says, “so that they might be with Him.” This is the first and foundational thing. Before preaching, before working with power, before leading people, they had to be with Christ. Discipleship without the presence of Christ is empty. Ministry does not begin with work, but with communion. Those who would later go into the world first had to learn to live in the Lord’s presence, to listen to His word, to see His ways, and to be formed near Him. Then it says, “so that He might send them to preach.” That is, being with Christ was not the final goal, but their preparation for the mission. True ministry always comes from the awareness of being sent. They will not speak in their own name, but on behalf of the One who called and prepared them.