Delegation

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.
Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead, others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life. But Herod said, “I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” And he tried to see him. Luke 9:1-9

After another miraculous healing of a hemorrhage incurable by normal medical means and the raising of Jairus' dead daughter (Luke 8:40-56), Jesus sent His disciples out to put into practice the things they'd been learning from Him. Notice, He gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases! Power and authority. From the ultimate source of power and authority. These guys were spiritually immature and inexperienced, but they were His chosen and they could perform these ministries in His authority alone, without personal qualification.

The Twelve were sent. That would have to include Judas. There is no indication Judas did not have the same success as the other eleven. Conclusion: Jesus' authority and power, not the goodness or spirituality of the Twelve gave the people healing and redemption. Quoting A.B. Bruce in The Training of the Twelve: "Usefulness does not necessarily imply goodness, according to the teaching of Christ Himself. 'Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by Thy name and by Thy name cast out devils, and by Thy name do many wonderful works?' His answer is not 'you didn't these things,' it is: 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.'" (Matthew 7:22)

He gave them careful instruction on these first missions of mercy and evangelism. They were green, but they were sent to give aid and comfort to a desperately lost and hurting people. Where they found positive volition to their message and ministry, they were to abide. Where they were rejected, they were to leave with no apology or regret. They were to accept the hospitality of those they visited, since they took no provision for themselves, this trip. This probably limited their contacts to the particular area Jesus sent them into. No venturing out of the assigned field. There was a plan and purpose to the way Jesus evangelized first the Jewish, then the gentile world.

All this had Herod in a frenzy. It couldn't be John, because he had been beheaded. An Old Testament prophet, revived for this purpose? Who could this be, about whom such stories were being told? Herod wanted to see for himself. This could be difficult to handle.