After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text highlights that Jesus sent these seventy ahead of him, like scouts preparing the way. This wasn't just about announcing his arrival; it was about making necessary preparations in advance for his own upcoming visit to those same places.
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus, with His earthly ministry drawing to a close and His face set toward Jerusalem, expands His mission by appointing seventy additional disciples. He sends them out in pairs ahead of Him into towns and villages, essentially as His advance team to prepare the way for His own arrival. This mission appears to be a preparatory step, a way to cover more ground in the limited time remaining and to signify the coming spread of His message.
Jesus wasn't just sending out helpers; He was commissioning royal representatives. What does it mean to be 'appointed' as an ambassador?
The Greek word used here, 'anedeixen,' literally means to 'lift up and show.' It implies a public declaration and appointment to an office. Jesus is publicly presenting these seventy individuals as His chosen representatives.
This isn't a casual assignment. It's a formal installation, like proclaiming someone elected to a significant role. These weren't just followers; they were designated heralds, carrying the authority and message of the King Himself. They were chosen to represent Him, to make His presence known before He arrived.
Why didn't Jesus send them out alone? The 'two by two' strategy held deep significance for their mission.
Sending the seventy out 'two by two' was a deliberate strategy with multiple benefits:
Ask a follow-up
These seventy were sent ahead. What was the purpose of this 'pre-arrival' mission, especially given Jesus' limited time?
The seventy were sent 'into every town and place where he himself was about to go.' They acted as pioneers, preparing the way for Jesus' own arrival. With His time on earth drawing to a close, Jesus needed to maximize His impact.
Their mission was to:
Understand the original words
Kyrios · Greek Noun
The title used for Jesus Christ, indicating His sovereign authority, deity, and supreme status as ruler over all creation and the church.
anadeiknymi · Greek Verb
To designate or formally assign someone to a specific office, task, or mission, often implying divine commission.
This mission of the seventy represents an expansion and intensification of Jesus' ministry in His final months, preparing the way for His own arrival and the coming of the Kingdom of God.
c. 30 AD
Jesus Appoints Twelve Apostles
Jesus selects a core group of twelve disciples to be His closest companions and to be sent out to preach and heal.
c. 30 AD
Mission of the Twelve Apostles
The twelve apostles are sent out, mirroring the earlier mission, with instructions to focus on Israel.
c. October 30 AD— this verse
Jesus Appoints Seventy Others
Jesus selects seventy (or seventy-two) additional disciples and commissions them for a specific mission.
c. October 30 AD
Mission of the Seventy
The seventy disciples are sent out in pairs ahead of Jesus into towns and places He intended to visit.
c. November 30 AD
Return of the Seventy
The seventy disciples return with joy, reporting on their success in the mission, including their authority over demons.
c. December 30 AD - January 31 AD
Journey to Jerusalem
Jesus begins His final journey to Jerusalem, during which many of the events in Luke chapters 10-19 occur.
This passage describes Moses appointing leaders, similar to Jesus appointing his disciples, showing a pattern of delegated authority for God's work.
Numbers 11:16-17The Lord instructs Moses to gather seventy elders to share the burden of leading Israel, mirroring Jesus's act of commissioning seventy (or seventy-two) disciples to help in his ministry.
Matthew 10:5-15This passage details the instructions Jesus gave to the twelve apostles when he first sent them out, providing a parallel to the mission given to the seventy disciples.
Mark 6:7This verse describes Jesus sending out the twelve apostles, two by two, which parallels the instruction and method used when sending out the seventy.
Isaiah 52:7The imagery of 'how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news' connects to the work of these disciples going ahead of Jesus to announce his coming.
vincentLuke 10:1: "After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come."
Appointed (ἀνέδειξεν)Used by Luke only. Lit., to lift up and shew, as Acts 1:24 : "Shew which one thou hast chosen." Hence to proclaim any one elected to an office. See on the kindred noun, shewing, Luke 1:80.Other seventyWrong; for he had not appointed seventy previously. Rev., rightly, seventy others, with reference to the…
clarkeLuke 10:1: "After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come."
The Lord appointed other seventy - Rather, seventy others, not other seventy, as our translation has it, which seems to intimate that he had appointed seventy before this time, though, probably, the word other has a reference to the twelve chosen first: he not only chose twelve disciples to be constantly with him; but he chose…
The text highlights that Jesus sent these seventy ahead of him, like scouts preparing the way. This wasn't just about announcing his arrival; it was about making necessary preparations in advance for his own upcoming visit to those same places.
Jesus, with His earthly ministry drawing to a close and His face set toward Jerusalem, expands His mission by appointing seventy additional disciples. He sends them out in pairs ahead of Him into towns and villages, essentially as His advance team to prepare the way for His own arrival. This mission appears to be a preparatory step, a way to cover more ground in the limited time remaining and to signify the coming spread of His message.
Jesus, with His earthly ministry drawing to a close and His face set toward Jerusalem, expands His mission by appointing seventy additional disciples. He sends them out in pairs ahead of Him into towns and villages, essentially as His advance team to prepare the way for His own arrival. This mission appears to be a preparatory step, a way to cover more ground in the limited time remaining and to signify the coming spread of His message.
"After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go." — The text highlights that Jesus sent these seventy ahead of him, like scouts preparing the way. This wasn't just about announcing his arrival; it was about making necessary preparations in advance f…
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Last reviewed October 2026