those selected for the task. Do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, Jesus instructs his disciples. You will be “inspired.” The book of Acts takes up that promise as one of its themes. In Mark, it remains a promise. The disciples, who have thus far understood little and do not know what to say, will one day speak the right words. That will be the work of the Spirit. The image behind this notion of inspired speech is prophecy. One of the distinctive features of the Christian movement was