Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options
Close NABRE

Luke 10
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

Chapter 10

The Mission of the Seventy-two.[a] 1 After this the Lord appointed seventy[-two][b] others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit.(A) 2 He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.(B) 3 Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.(C) 4 [c]Carry no money bag,(D) no sack, no sandals;(E) and greet no one along the way. 5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’[d] 6 If a peaceful person[e] lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another.(F) 8 Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you,(G) 9 cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’(H) 10 Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say,(I) 11 ‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.’ Yet know this: the kingdom of God is at hand.(J) 12 I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.(K)

Reproaches to Unrepentant Towns.[f] 13 (L)“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!(M) For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 [g](N)And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.’ 16 Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”(O)

Return of the Seventy-two. 17 The seventy[-two] returned rejoicing, and said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” 18 Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning[h] from the sky.(P) 19 Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you.(Q) 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”(R)

Praise of the Father.(S) 21 At that very moment he rejoiced [in] the holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.[i] Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.(T) 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”(U)

The Privileges of Discipleship.(V) 23 Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24 For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

The Greatest Commandment.(W) 25 [j]There was a scholar of the law[k] who stood up to test him and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”(X) 26 Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” 27 He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”(Y) 28 He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”(Z)

The Parable of the Good Samaritan. 29 But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. 31 [l]A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. 32 Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. 33 But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. 34 He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ 36 Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” 37 He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Martha and Mary.[m] 38 (AA)As they continued their journey he entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. 39 [n]She had a sister named Mary [who] sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. 40 Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” 41 The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. 42 [o]There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

Footnotes

  1. 10:1–12 Only the Gospel of Luke contains two episodes in which Jesus sends out his followers on a mission: the first (Lk 9:1–6) is based on the mission in Mk 6:6b–13 and recounts the sending out of the Twelve; here in Lk 10:1–12 a similar report based on Q becomes the sending out of seventy-two in this gospel. The episode continues the theme of Jesus preparing witnesses to himself and his ministry. These witnesses include not only the Twelve but also the seventy-two who may represent the Christian mission in Luke’s own day. Note that the instructions given to the Twelve and to the seventy-two are similar and that what is said to the seventy-two in Lk 10:4 is directed to the Twelve in Lk 22:35.
  2. 10:1 Seventy[-two]: important representatives of the Alexandrian and Caesarean text types read “seventy,” while other important Alexandrian texts and Western readings have “seventy-two.”
  3. 10:4 Carry no money bag…greet no one along the way: because of the urgency of the mission and the singlemindedness required of missionaries, attachment to material possessions should be avoided and even customary greetings should not distract from the fulfillment of the task.
  4. 10:5 First say, ‘Peace to this household’: see notes on Lk 2:14 and Mt 10:13.
  5. 10:6 A peaceful person: literally, “a son of peace.”
  6. 10:13–16 The call to repentance that is a part of the proclamation of the kingdom brings with it a severe judgment for those who hear it and reject it.
  7. 10:15 The netherworld: the underworld, the place of the dead (Acts 2:27, 31) here contrasted with heaven; see also note on Mt 11:23.
  8. 10:18 I have observed Satan fall like lightning: the effect of the mission of the seventy-two is characterized by the Lucan Jesus as a symbolic fall of Satan. As the kingdom of God is gradually being established, evil in all its forms is being defeated; the dominion of Satan over humanity is at an end.
  9. 10:21 Revealed them to the childlike: a restatement of the theme announced in Lk 8:10: the mysteries of the kingdom are revealed to the disciples. See also note on Mt 11:25–27.
  10. 10:25–37 In response to a question from a Jewish legal expert about inheriting eternal life, Jesus illustrates the superiority of love over legalism through the story of the good Samaritan. The law of love proclaimed in the “Sermon on the Plain” (Lk 6:27–36) is exemplified by one whom the legal expert would have considered ritually impure (see Jn 4:9). Moreover, the identity of the “neighbor” requested by the legal expert (Lk 10:29) turns out to be a Samaritan, the enemy of the Jew (see note on Lk 9:52).
  11. 10:25 Scholar of the law: an expert in the Mosaic law, and probably a member of the group elsewhere identified as the scribes (Lk 5:21).
  12. 10:31–32 Priest…Levite: those religious representatives of Judaism who would have been expected to be models of “neighbor” to the victim pass him by.
  13. 10:38–42 The story of Martha and Mary further illustrates the importance of hearing the words of the teacher and the concern with women in Luke.
  14. 10:39 Sat beside the Lord at his feet: it is remarkable for first-century Palestinian Judaism that a woman would assume the posture of a disciple at the master’s feet (see also Lk 8:35; Acts 22:3), and it reveals a characteristic attitude of Jesus toward women in this gospel (see Lk 8:2–3).
  15. 10:42 There is need of only one thing: some ancient versions read, “there is need of few things”; another important, although probably inferior, reading found in some manuscripts is, “there is need of few things, or of one.”
Listen to Luke 10
Close NKJV

Luke 10
New King James Version

The Seventy Sent Out

10 After these things the Lord appointed [a]seventy others also, and (A)sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 2 Then He said to them, (B)“The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore (C)pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 Go your way; (D)behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 4 (E)Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and (F)greet no one along the road. 5 (G)But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. 7 (H)And remain in the same house, (I)eating and drinking such things as they give, for (J)the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. 9 (K)And heal the sick there, and say to them, (L)‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11 (M)‘The very dust of your city which clings to [b]us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’ 12 [c]But I say to you that (N)it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.

Woe to the Impenitent Cities(O)

13 (P)“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! (Q)For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 (R)And you, Capernaum, [d]who are (S)exalted to heaven, (T)will be brought down to Hades. 16 (U)He who hears you hears Me, (V)he who rejects you rejects Me, and (W)he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”

The Seventy Return with Joy

17 Then (X)the [e]seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”

18 And He said to them, (Y)“I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, (Z)I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but [f]rather rejoice because (AA)your names are written in heaven.”

Jesus Rejoices in the Spirit(AB)

21 (AC)In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 22 (AD)All[g] things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and (AE)no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”

23 Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, (AF)“Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; 24 for I tell you (AG)that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.”

The Parable of the Good Samaritan(AH)

25 And behold, a certain [h]lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, (AI)“Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”

27 So he answered and said, (AJ)“ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and (AK)‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and (AL)you will live.”

29 But he, wanting to (AM)justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among [i]thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, (AN)he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain (AO)Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had (AP)compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, [j]when he departed, he took out two (AQ)denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”

37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”

Then Jesus said to him, (AR)“Go and do likewise.”

Mary and Martha Worship and Serve

38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named (AS)Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, (AT)who also (AU)sat at [k]Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”

41 And [l]Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But (AV)one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Footnotes

  1. Luke 10:1 NU seventy-two others
  2. Luke 10:11 NU our feet
  3. Luke 10:12 NU, M omit But
  4. Luke 10:15 NU will you be exalted to heaven? You will be thrust down to Hades!
  5. Luke 10:17 NU seventy-two
  6. Luke 10:20 NU, M omit rather
  7. Luke 10:22 M And turning to the disciples He said, “All
  8. Luke 10:25 expert in the law
  9. Luke 10:30 robbers
  10. Luke 10:35 NU omits when he departed
  11. Luke 10:39 NU the Lord’s
  12. Luke 10:41 NU the Lord
Next
Luke 9
Luke 11
Next
dropdown
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Learn the Bible in 30 days