Study Desk

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two^(a)(b)(c)

After this the Lord^(d) appointed seventy-two^[a] others^(e) and sent them two by two^(f) ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.^(g)

He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.^(h)

Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.⁽ⁱ⁾

Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

"When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.'

If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you.

Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages.^(j) Do not move around from house to house.

"When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you.^(k)

Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God^(l) has come near to you.'

But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say,

‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you.^(m) Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.'⁽ⁿ⁾

I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom^(o) than for that town.^(p)

"Woe to you,^(q) Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth^(r) and ashes.

But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.

And you, Capernaum,^(s) will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.^[b]

"Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me."^(t)

The seventy-two^(u) returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."^(v)

He replied, "I saw Satan^(w) fall like lightning from heaven.^(x)

I have given you authority to trample on snakes^(y) and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."^(z)