Luke 10:1

Other seventy. [Mission of the Seventy, Luke 10:1-24. Cf. on Matt. 9:36 to 11:1. See Early Peraean Ministry; The Ministry of Our Lord.] Better, “seventy others”; that is, the Seventy were in addition to the Twelve, not in addition to another “seventy” previously appointed. The word “also” seems to refer to the mission of the Twelve a year before this. For the time and circumstances of the mission of the Seventy see on Matt. 19:1. Important textual evidence (cf. p. 146) may also be cited for the reading “seventy-two.” The fact that the Seventy are not mentioned again implies that this was a temporary appointment. It seems that the appointment took place in Peraea, but that the Seventy were sent first to the region of Samaria (see DA 488). They had accompanied Jesus on the Third Galilean Tour, when the Twelve had gone forth on their first mission, two by two (see DA 488).

A comparison here is interesting. There were 12 patriarchs; there were also 12 disciples (cf. Rev. 7:4-8; 21:12, 14). Moses appointed 70 men to assist him in judging Israel (see Num. 11:16-25); Jesus also appointed 70 men to assist Him. According to Jewish tradition, based on the list of the descendants of Noah in Gen. 10, there were 70 nations in the world. The Sanhedrin was made up of 70 members, plus its president. The number 70 thus played an important role in Jewish thought. To what extent this may have influenced Jesus in the appointment of the Seventy, or whether any significance attaches to the fact that they were 70 in number, is something Inspiration has not revealed and on which speculation is idle.

Two and two. As with the Twelve (see on Mark 6:7). This custom seems to have become common in the missionary work of the early Christian church (see Acts 13:2; 15:27, 39, 40; 17:14; 19:22). Compare also the mission of two of John’s disciples (Luke 7:19).

Whither he himself would come. This missionary expedition bears the marks of a carefully organized evangelistic campaign. The fact that the Seventy were sent to certain selected localities means that Jesus had budgeted His time and had determined in advance exactly where He would go during the months that remained (see on ch. 2:49). The fact that the Seventy went first to the towns and villages of Samaria implies that Jesus must have conducted a rather extensive ministry there during the winter of A.D. 30-31. The friendly attitude of Jesus toward the people of Samaria manifested upon the occasion of His visit with the woman of Sychar and His ministry for the people of that vicinity (see John 4:5-42) must have done much to break down prejudice. That visit had occurred about two years prior to this time, probably during the winter of A.D. 28-29. Upon that occasion “many” had already come to believe on Him (John 4:39, 41). The ministry of the Seventy for the Samaritan people would prepare the disciples for their later labors in that region (see Acts 1:8). After the resurrection, marked success attended the labors of the apostles there (see DA 488).