Jesus Sending Out the Seventy Two Disciples
The sending out of the seventy-two (or seventy) disciples by Jesus is recorded in Luke 10:1-24, a narrative not found in the other Gospels [4]. This event follows the earlier mission of the twelve apostles described in Luke 9:1-6 [5, 10].
Jesus "appointed other seventy also" (Luke 10:1), a phrasing that some interpreters understand to mean "seventy others," distinguishing them from the previously chosen twelve apostles [3, 5]. The Syriac version renders it as "Jesus separated out of his disciples, seventy others" [5]. This suggests that these seventy were chosen from the broader group of Jesus's followers, beyond the inner circle of the twelve [5].
The purpose of this mission was for the seventy to go ahead of Jesus, "two and two, into every city and place, whither he himself would come" (Luke 10:1). Their role was to "preach the gospel, and to work miracles in those places which Christ himself designed to visit, to make way for his entertainment" [4]. The instructions given to these seventy disciples were largely similar to those previously given to the twelve apostles [4].
Commentators have noted the symbolic significance of the number seventy. Matthew Henry suggests that just as the choice of twelve apostles alluded to the twelve patriarchs, tribes, and princes of Israel, the seventy might similarly carry symbolic weight [4]. Adam Clarke draws a parallel to the structure of the Jewish Church, suggesting that Jesus modeled aspects of his new covenant community on the divine patterns found in the old covenant [3].
The mission of the seventy-two is distinct from other instances where Jesus sent out his disciples. For example, Matthew records Jesus taking the twelve disciples aside as he went up to Jerusalem [1]. In another instance, Jesus "constrained his disciples to enter into a ship, and to go over before him, while he sent the multitude away" (Matthew 14:22) [2]. John Gill suggests that this particular compulsion of the disciples was due to Jesus perceiving that the multitude, convinced by his miracles, intended to make him a temporal king, a notion his disciples also harbored [7]. Origen interprets this separation of disciples from the multitudes as symbolic, with the disciples representing those "dwelling on the other side" in a mystic sense [8].
Upon their return, the seventy-two disciples reported back to Jesus with joy, stating, "Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name" (Luke 10:17) [9]. This mission served as a training ground for the disciples, preparing them to continue Jesus's work after his departure [10]. Augustine, in his homilies, discusses the sequence of events in the Gospels, noting that Matthew's narrative does not always make the exact order apparent, particularly concerning Jesus's movements and the sending out of disciples [6]. The sending of the seventy-two is a unique account in Luke, highlighting the expansion of Jesus's ministry beyond the initial twelve and foreshadowing the broader spread of the gospel.
Sources
- Matthew “As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, -- Matthew 20:17”
- Matthew “Matthew 14:22 (Geneva1599) — And straightway Iesus compelled his disciples to enter into a shippe, and to goe ouer before him, while he sent the multitude away.”
- Luke (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Luke 10:1: The Lord appointed other seventy - Rather, seventy others, not other seventy, as our translation has it, which seems to intimate that he had appointed seventy before this time, though, probably, the word other has a reference to the twelve chosen first: he not only chose twelve disciples to be constantly with him; but he chose seventy others to go before him. Our blessed Lord formed every thing in his Church on the model of the Jewish Church; and why? Because it was the pattern shown by God himself, the Divine form, which pointed out the heavenly substance which now b”
- Luke (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Luke 10:1: We have here the sending forth of seventy disciples, two and two, into divers parts of the country, to preach the gospel, and to work miracles in those places which Christ himself designed to visit, to make way for his entertainment. This is not taken notice of by the other evangelists: but the instructions here given them are much the same with those given to the twelve. Observe, I. Their number: they were seventy. As in the choice of twelve apostles Christ had an eye to the twelve patriarchs, the twelve tribes, and the twelve princes of those tribes, so here he se”
- Luke (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Luke 10 (introduction): After these things,.... After the calling and mission of the twelve apostles, and giving them their powers, commissions, and instructions, with other things that followed thereon; Luk 9:1 the Lord appointed other seventy also; not that he had appointed before seventy, and now made an appointment of seventy more; but as the Syriac version renders it, "Jesus separated out of his disciples, seventy others" that is, besides the twelve, whom he chose and called out, from among the multitude of the disciples, and ordained them apostles, he selected and ordained ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — CHAP. XXX.--OF THE SECTION WHERE IT IS RECORDED, THAT BEING MOVED WITH COMPASSION FOR THE MULTITUDES, HE SENT HIS DISCIPLES, GIVING THEM POWER TO WORK CURES, AND CHARGED THEM WITH MANY INSTRUCTIONS, D (part 1): 70. As to the events next related, it is true that their exact order is not made apparent by Matthew's narrative. For after the notices of the two incidents in connection with the blind men and the dumb demoniac, he continues in the following manner: "And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and pr”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 14:21: And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples,.... As soon as ever he had wrought the above miracle, and perceived that the people were so convinced by it, of his being the Messiah, that they were determined, whether he would or not, to set him up for a temporal king, to deliver them from the Roman yoke; which they doubted not he was able to do, who could feed so large a number, with such a small quantity of provision; see Joh 6:14 and knowing also, that his disciples had imbibed the same notion of a temporal kingdom, were very fond of it, and big with expectation”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 9: Gospel of Peter, Diatessaron, Origen's Commentaries — 5. THE DISCIPLES IN CONFLICT. JESUS WALKS UPON THE WATERS. (part 1): The reason why we have taken up this subject is the passage under discussion which tells that Jesus separated the disciples from the multitudes, and constrained them to enter into the boat and to go before Him unto the other side until He Himself should send the multitudes away;(7) for the multitudes were not able to go away to the other side, as they were not in the mystic sense Hebrews, which are by interpretation, "dwelling on the other side." But this was th”
- Luke (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Luke 10:17: Christ sent forth the seventy disciples as he was going up to Jerusalem to the feast of tabernacles, when he went up, not openly, but as it were in secret (Joh 7:10), having sent abroad so great a part of his ordinary retinue; and Dr. Lightfoot thinks it was before his return from that feast, and while he was yet at Jerusalem, or Bethany, which was hard by (for there he was, Luk 10:38), that they, or at least some of them, returned to him. Now here we are told, 1. What account they gave him of the success of their expedition: They returned again with joy (Luk 10:17”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 9:1: 9:1-6 Jesus now sent his twelve disciples to announce the Kingdom of God and demonstrate its authority by casting out demons and healing the sick. Jesus was training them to carry on his work after he was gone.”