Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two^(A)

10 After this, the Lord ·chose [appointed] ·seventy-two^[a] [^Cthe number may reflect the 70 nations listed in the “table of nations” in Genesis 10 (the Greek text of which reads “72”) and so foreshadows the mission to the Gentiles] others and sent them out in pairs ahead of him into every town and place where he ·planned [was about] to go. ² He said to them, “·There are a great many people to harvest [^LThe harvest is great/large], but ·there are only a few workers [^Lthe workers/laborers are few]. So pray to the Lord ·who owns [who is in charge of; ^Lof] the harvest, that he will send more ·workers [laborers] ·to gather [^Linto] his harvest. ³ Go now, but ·listen [^Llook; ^Tbehold]! I am sending you out like ·sheep [lambs] among wolves. ⁴ Don’t carry ·a purse [money bag], a ·bag [traveling bag], or sandals, and don’t ·waste time talking with people [greet anyone] on the road [^Cbecause of the urgency of the task]. ⁵ ·Before [When] you go into a house, [^Lfirst] say, ‘Peace be with this house.’ ⁶ If ·peace-loving people [^La son/child of peace] live there, your ·blessing of peace [^Lpeace] will ·stay with [rest on] them, but if not, then ·your blessing [^Lit] will come back to you. ⁷ Stay in the same house, eating and drinking what the people there give you. [^LFor] A worker ·should be given his pay [deserves his wages; ^Tis worthy of his hire; 1 Tim. 5:18]. Don’t move from house to house [^Cto avoid the temptation of constantly seeking better accommodations]. ⁸ If you go into a town and the people welcome you, eat what they give you. ⁹ Heal the sick who live there, and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’ ¹⁰ But if you go into a town, and the people don’t welcome you, then go into the streets and say, ¹¹ ‘Even the ·dirt [dust] from your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you [^Cin protest and as a warning of judgment]. But ·remember [know; recognize] that the kingdom of God ·is near [has come near; is at hand].’ ¹² I tell you, on ·the Judgment Day [^Lthat day] it will be ·better [more bearable/tolerable] for the people of Sodom [^Ca city God destroyed because the people were so evil; Gen. 19] than for the people of that town.

³⁷ Jesus said to his ·followers [disciples], “·There are many people to harvest [^LThe harvest is great/large] but ·there are only a few workers [the workers/laborers are few]. ³⁸ So pray to the Lord ·who owns [who is in charge of; ^Lof] the harvest, that he will send more ·workers [laborers] ·to gather [^Linto] his harvest.”

⁷ When you go, ·preach [announce; proclaim] this: ‘The kingdom of heaven is ·near [at hand].’ ⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead to life again, ·heal [^Lcleanse] ·those who have skin diseases [^Tthe lepers; see 8:2], and ·force demons out of people [^Lcast out demons]. ·I give you these powers freely, so help other people freely [^LFreely you have received, freely give]. ⁹ Don’t ·carry [or acquire] any money ·with you [^Lin your belts]—gold or silver or copper. ¹⁰ Don’t carry a ·bag [traveler’s bag; or beggar’s purse] or ·extra clothes [^Ltwo tunics] or sandals or a ·walking stick [staff]. Workers ·should be given what they need [deserve to be supported; ^Ldeserve their food/sustenance].

¹¹ “When you enter a city or town, ·find [seek out] some ·worthy [honorable; respected] person there and stay in that home until you leave. ¹² When you enter that home, ·give it your blessing [^Lgreet it; ^Ctypically, “Peace be with you”; see Luke 10:5]. ¹³ If the ·people there welcome you [^Lhouse is worthy], let your peace ·stay there [^Lcome upon it]. But if ·they don’t welcome you [^Lit is not worthy], ·take back the peace you wished for them [^Llet your peace return to you]. ¹⁴ And if ·a home or town [^Lanyone] refuses to welcome you or ·listen to you [heed your words/message], leave that ·place [^Lhome or town] and shake its dust off your feet [^Cin protest and as a warning of judgment]. ¹⁵ I tell you the truth, on the judgment day it will be ·better [more bearable/tolerable] for the ·towns [^Lland] of Sodom and Gomorrah [^Cevil cities destroyed by God; Gen. 19] than for the people of that town.

Jesus Warns His Apostles^(A)

¹⁶ “·Listen [^LLook; ^TBehold], I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as ·clever [wise; shrewd; cunning] as ·snakes [serpents] and as ·innocent [harmless] as doves.