Jesus challenges his Apostles in sending them out in a ministry that is full of danger. However, in no way does Jesus call his Apostles to behave like little satans but instead they are to practice the shrewd wisdom of caution, or strategy in their dove-like innocents. There seems to be a balance in that as preachers of the gospel, these Apostles were to be shrewd yet innocent in their mission. They were not to bring reproach upon themselves nor on the name of Christ when challenged by the kings and the religious elite. When the Apostles are attacked for their message and for their allegiance to Christ, they are to depend upon the Spirit of God the Father for their defense. There is no need to behave as the savage sinner when defending the gospel. The Apostles are once again commanded to depend upon the source of their salvation for the defense of their evangelism.
