The passage in Luke 10 describes how Jesus appointed and sent out 70 (or 72 in some manuscripts) disciples to preach and heal in the towns he intended to visit. This event is only recorded in the Gospel of Luke and provides insight into Jesus’ ministry and preparation for his final trip to Jerusalem.
Here is the background and details about this biblical account:
The Appointing of the 70
In Luke 10:1, it states that Jesus appointed 70 others and sent them out two by two ahead of him to every town and place he planned to go. Some ancient manuscripts say 72 rather than 70, but the majority say 70.
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. (Luke 10:1)
By appointing 70 followers to go ahead of him, Jesus was preparing the way and providing advanced ministry before his own arrival. The number 70 may symbolize the 70 nations listed in Genesis 10, indicating that this mission of preaching the kingdom of God was meant for all people, not just the Jews. The sending of the 70 follows the pattern of Moses appointing 70 elders to help him lead Israel in Numbers 11.
The Instructions to the 70
In Luke 10:2-12, Jesus gives instructions to the 70 he is sending out to preach and heal:
- He tells them there is an urgent need for workers to go and minister because the harvest is plentiful. This reflects Jesus’ compassion for the people who needed to hear the Good News.
- He warns them about the dangers of the mission, sending them out like lambs among wolves. There would be hostility and rejection.
- He instructs them not to take provisions but depend on those who welcome them for support. They are to stay with worthy people and build relationships in the towns.
- He tells them to heal the sick as they preach the kingdom of God. The demonstration of miraculous power would accompany the proclamation of the Gospel.
- He warns them to shake off the dust from hostile towns who reject them. The seventy are not responsible for those who refuse to hear and accept the message.
Jesus empowered and prepared his followers to carry on ministry in his name and authority. He didn’t expect the work to be easy but encouraged them to faithfully sow spiritual seeds wherever they went, depending on God to produce fruit.
The Return and Report of the 70
When the 70 disciples return in Luke 10:17-20, they report with joy how their mission went:
- The seventy return with joy that even the demons submit to them when they use Jesus’ name.
- Jesus affirms that he has given them authority to overcome the power of the enemy.
- Jesus also helps them see that the real reason for joy is that their names are written in heaven.
The success of the 70 disciples’ mission showed Jesus’ authority and the advance of God’s kingdom. Their ministry set the stage for Jesus’ arrival in the towns and confirmed that his message was taking hold among the people. Jesus reminded them that spiritual blessings far outweighed supernatural power.
The Unnamed and Obscure Disciples
Aside from a few like James and John, the 70 disciples are not named. The text gives no list of names. Some believe the 70 were among the wider group of Jesus’ followers, perhaps overlapping with the 120 believers mentioned in Acts 1:15. Others think the 70 may have included some unbelieving Jews who later deserted Jesus when his teaching became more difficult (John 6:66). In any case, they were likely ordinary men Jesus prepared and commissioned for a special assignment.
It is striking that Jesus did not seem to place value on recording the names of the 70 disciples. His focus was on empowering regular people to carry out the work of the Gospel, not promoting a few leaders. The ministry priority was more important than making the messengers themselves famous and preserving their identities. The unnamed 70 lived out obedience to Jesus’ commission and served his mission for a time, pointing people to him.
Parallels to the Sending of the Twelve
There are similarities between Jesus sending out the Twelve Disciples in Luke 9 and the sending of the 70 in Luke 10:
- Both groups were given power and authority over evil spirits and sickness as they preached the kingdom.
- Both were sent out by Jesus to engage in practical ministry work, not just observe him.
- Both were instructed to depend on those who welcomed the message for support.
- Both reported back to Jesus afterward about their experiences.
Yet there are also differences between the Twelve and the 70:
- The Twelve seem to have been specifically chosen by Jesus to be apostles, whereas the 70 were a larger, less permanent mission group.
- The Twelve were sent only to the Jews while the 70 went to both Jews and Gentiles.
- The Twelve were sent out once while the 70 were sent out for a specific time to prepare the way for Jesus.
Overall, the commissioning of the 70 shows Jesus strategically multiplying laborers to reach more people with his message and power. He expanded his ministry impact beyond just the twelve apostles.
Later References to the 70
There are very few other biblical references to the 70 disciples:
- Luke states that after Jesus spoke some hard teachings, many of his disciples withdrew and were not walking with him anymore (John 6:66). This may have included some of the 70.
- Some manuscripts of Luke 24:33 say that after the resurrection, Jesus appeared to “the eleven and those with them.” Some scholars believe this implies the 70 disciples.
Outside of the Gospels, neither Acts nor the Epistles mention the 70 disciples again. They fade into obscurity just as suddenly as they appeared. Presumably they continued Jesus’ work behind the scenes and became part of the growing New Testament church.
Significance of the 70 Disciples
The appointment of the 70 disciples provides several key insights about Jesus’ ministry approach:
- Kingdom Growth: Jesus intentionally prepared the way for his ministry to reach more people. He multiplied laborers for a growing spiritual harvest.
- Disciple Making: Jesus equipped ordinary people to carry out extraordinary ministry in his name. He didn’t leave all the work just to the twelve apostles.
- Empowerment: Jesus delegated his authority to commission disciples into ministry. He authorized them to preach, heal, and battle spiritually.
- Strategic Training: Jesus gave his followers practical ministry experience and on-the-job training. He combined instruction with sending them out to apply it.
The 70 disciples were the forerunners in towns that Jesus himself would visit. They testified about him from firsthand experience, not just hearing from others. This prepared seekers to receive Jesus and multiplied the impact of his person-to-person ministry. The advancing work of God’s kingdom took priority over the fame of the individual messengers. Jesus’ leadership example showed the importance of empowering many people to carry out the mission of God.
In summary, the account of the 70 disciples whom Jesus sent out provides a model for how ministry can expand through mobilizing a large team of workers. As Jesus said, the urgent spiritual harvest requires more laborers equipped to do God’s work. The 70 were temporary emissaries, not perpetual icons. Jesus called and empowered common people to put faith into practice. They received on-the-job training as the seventy disciples gained ministry experience. Their pioneering efforts paved the way for Jesus’ own ministry in the towns. Their impact faded in biblical history, but their service matters because they fulfilled Christ’s commission during their time. The unnamed seventy disciples exemplified principles of kingdom growth, disciple making, empowerment, and strategic training. Jesus multiplied ministers beyond just the twelve apostles, showing that he equips all types of people to advance the Gospel.