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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. (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. (B) Now go, but remember, I am sending you like lambs into a pack of wolves. (C) Don't take along a moneybag or a traveling bag or sandals. And don't waste time greeting people on the road.[b] As soon as you enter a home, say, “God bless this home with peace.” 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. (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.

If the people of a town welcome you, eat whatever they offer. 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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Footnotes

  1. 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.
  2. 10.4 waste time greeting people on the road: In those days a polite greeting could take a long time.
  3. 10.9 will soon be here: Or “is already here.”
  4. 10.11 shaking the dust from our feet: This was a way of showing rejection.
  5. 10.11 will soon be here: Or “is already here.”

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two(A)(B)(C)

10 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.’ 10 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘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) 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom(O) than for that town.(P)

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 10:1 Some manuscripts seventy; also in verse 17