Luke 10:1

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Luke 10:1 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Now after these things the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself was about to come.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Now after these things the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself was about to come.
Luke 10:1 — American Standard Version

Context — Luke 10

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Now after these things the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself was about to come.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“After these things, etc.] After the calling and mission of the twelve apostles, and giving them their powers, commissions, and instructions, with other things that followed thereon; (<420901>Luke 9:1) the Lord appointed other seventy also; not that he had appointed before seventy, and now made an appointment of seventy more; but as the Syriac version renders it, “Jesus separated out of his disciples, seventy others” that is, besides the twelve, whom he chose and called out, from among the multitude of the disciples, and ordained them apostles, he selected and ordained seventy others, in allusion to the seventy elders of Israel, (<041116>Numbers 11:16,24,25). The Vulgate Latin and Persic…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“MISSION OF THE SEVENTY DISCIPLES, AND THEIR RETURN. (Luke 10:1-24) the Lord--a becoming title here, as this appointment was an act truly lordly [BENGEL]. other seventy also--rather, "others (also in number), seventy"; probably with allusion to the seventy elders of Israel on whom the Spirit descended in the wilderness (Num 11:24-25). The mission, unlike that of the Twelve, was evidently quite temporary. All the instructions are in keeping with a brief and hasty pioneering mission, intended to supply what of general preparation for coming events the Lord's own visit afterwards to the same "cities and places" (Luk 10:1) would not, from want of time, now suffice to accomplish; whereas the…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“After these things - After the appointment of the twelve apostles, and the transactions recorded in the previous chapters. Other seventy - Seventy others besides the apostles. They were appointed for a different purpose from the apostles. The apostles were to be with him; to hear his instructions; to be witnesses of his miracles, his sufferings, his death, his resurrection and ascension, that they might “then” go and proclaim all these things to the world. The seventy were sent out to preach immediately, and chiefly where he himself was about to come. They were appointed for a temporary object. They were to go into the villages and towns, and prepare the way for his coming. The number…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“10:1-20 The Lord now chose seventy-two: The mission of the Twelve (9:1-6) represented Jesus’ ministry to Israel; this mission represented his outreach to the Gentiles. The number 72 represents the nations of the world. Genesis 10 lists 70 nations in the Hebrew text, but the Septuagint—the Greek Old Testament—lists 72. Luke, who used the Septuagint, probably wrote 72, and then a later scribe “corrected” the text to agree with the Hebrew. The point is that the Good News is for both Jews and Gentiles.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“these: Mat 10:1-4; Mar 6:7-13 other seventy: Rather, seventy others, as Dr. Campbell renders; for the expression other seventy implies that there were seventy sent before, which was not the case. it seems to refer to the twelve apostles whom our Lord had previously chosen. Num 11:16, Num 11:24-26 two and: Act 13:2-4; Rev 11:3-10 whither: Luk 1:17, Luk 1:76, Luk 3:4-6, Luk 9:52 Luke 10:2”
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Sources and verification