[metmom]

The concept of binding and loosing was a rabbinical concept. Binding and loosing is an old, archaic thing. It would be permitting and forbidding in our terms. And, Jesus said to the Apostles, you remember “that whatever you forbid on earth, shall have been forbidden in Heaven, and whatever you permit on earth shall have been permitted in Heaven.” In other words, He is simply saying, when you act in agreement with the revelation of God, Heaven is acting on your behalf.

Which fits in very well with Peter's vision in Acts 10 and God's command to go to Cornelius and the Jews recognition that the Gospel was meant for the Gentiles, too.

[1000 silverlings]

yes, after all stewards are traditionally “given the keys” to the estate, household, etc. Good stewards would be keeping order and making decisions. The apostles and disciples were going forth as leaders and needed to act in conjunction with God, doing His will, not their own.