The Seventy or Seventy-Two

New Testament Guide · first century

Luke records Jesus appointing and sending a larger group of disciples in pairs ahead of Him. Ancient manuscripts differ between seventy and seventy-two.

Why it matters

The passage shows mission extending beyond the Twelve while warning us not to read later lists of names back into Luke as though he supplied them.

Scripture

Luke 10:1-20 — Jesus sends the seventy/seventy-two, instructs them, and receives their report.

Primary sources

The Gospel records:

Luke narrates the Lord appointing seventy (or seventy-two) others and sending them out in pairs ahead of Him.

the Lord appointed seventy[-two] others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs
— Gospel of Luke (canonical text), Gospel of Luke (Chapter 10, Verse 1), trans. New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE)

Passage context and translation

Luke alone records the mission of the seventy (or seventy-two) sent out in pairs as heralds before Christ, with instructions on peace, healing, and kingdom proclamation.

Before the excerpt

After this

After the excerpt

to every town and place

Short exact excerpt and adjacent fragments checked against the USCCB NABRE text on 2026-10-09. The edition's seventy[-two] brackets are retained; its note records the ancient manuscript variation between seventy and seventy-two. Footnote markers are omitted.

Sources and further reading

USCCB Luke 10 and textual note on seventy/seventy-two (Website)

Related records

Andronicus and Junia (New Testament Witness)
The Twelve Apostles (New Testament Guide)

All records