Luke 10:1-12
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Mission of the Seventy-Two
10 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go.(A) 2 He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.(B) 3 Go on your way; I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves.(C) 4 Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.(D) 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’(E) 6 And if a person of peace is there, your peace will rest on that person, but if not, it will return to you. 7 Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house.(F) 8 Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9 cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’[b](G) 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’[c](H) 12 I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.(I)
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Luke 10:1-12
Contemporary English Version
The Work of the Seventy-Two Followers
10 Later the Lord chose 72[a] other followers and sent them out two by two to every town and village where he was about to go. 2 (A) He said to them:
A large crop is in the fields, but there are only a few workers. Ask the Lord in charge of the harvest to send out workers to bring it in. 3 (B) Now go, but remember, I am sending you like lambs into a pack of wolves. 4 (C) Don't take along a moneybag or a traveling bag or sandals. And don't waste time greeting people on the road.[b] 5 As soon as you enter a home, say, “God bless this home with peace.” 6 If the people living there are peace-loving, your prayer for peace will bless them. But if they are not peace-loving, your prayer will return to you. 7 (D) Stay with the same family, eating and drinking whatever they give you, because workers are worth what they earn. Don't move around from house to house.
8 If the people of a town welcome you, eat whatever they offer. 9 Heal their sick and say, “God's kingdom will soon be here!”[c]
10 (E) But if the people of a town refuse to welcome you, go out into the street and say, 11 “We are shaking the dust from our feet[d] as a warning to you. And you can be sure that God's kingdom will soon be here!”[e] 12 (F) I tell you that on the day of judgment the people of Sodom will get off easier than the people of that town!
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- 10.1 72: Some manuscripts have “70.” According to Jewish tradition, there were 70 nations on earth. But the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament has “72” in place of “70.” Jesus probably chose this number of followers to show that his message was for everyone in the world.
- 10.4 waste time greeting people on the road: In those days a polite greeting could take a long time.
- 10.9 will soon be here: Or “is already here.”
- 10.11 shaking the dust from our feet: This was a way of showing rejection.
- 10.11 will soon be here: Or “is already here.”
Luke 10:17-20
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Return of the Seventy-Two
17 The seventy-two[a] returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!”(A) 18 He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning.(B) 19 Indeed, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will hurt you.(C) 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”(D)
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- 10.17 Other ancient authorities read seventy
Luke 10:17-20
Contemporary English Version
The Return of the Seventy-Two
17 When the 72[a] followers returned, they were excited and said, “Lord, even the demons obeyed when we spoke in your name!”
18 Jesus told them:
I saw Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19 (A) I have given you the power to trample on snakes and scorpions and to defeat the power of your enemy Satan. Nothing can harm you. 20 But don't be happy because evil spirits obey you. Be happy that your names are written in heaven!
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- 10.17 72: See the note at 10.1.
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