Luke 10:1-24

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-two

1 After this the Lord appointed 72 others. He sent them out two by two ahead of him. They went to every town and place where he was about to go.

2 He told them, "The harvest is huge, but the workers are few. So ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field.

3 "Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.

4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals. And don't greet anyone on the road.

5 "When you enter a house, first say, 'May this house be blessed with peace.'

6 If someone there loves peace, your blessing of peace will rest on him. If not, it will return to you.

7 Stay in that house. Eat and drink anything they give you. Workers are worthy of their pay. Do not move around from house to house.

8 "When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set down in front of you.

9 Heal the sick people who are there. Tell them, 'God's kingdom is near you.'

10 "But what if you enter a town and are not welcomed? Then go into its streets and say,

11 'We wipe off even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet. We do it to show that God isn't pleased with you. But here is what you can be sure of. God's kingdom is near.'

12 "I tell you this. On judgment day it will be easier for Sodom than for that town.

13 "How terrible it will be for you, Korazin! How terrible for you, Bethsaida! Suppose the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon. They would have turned away from their sins long ago. They would have put on black clothes. They would have sat down in ashes.

14 On judgment day it will be easier for Tyre and Sidon than for you.

15 "And what about you, Capernaum? Will you be lifted up to heaven? No! You will go down to the place of the dead.

16 "Anyone who listens to you listens to me. Anyone who does not accept you does not accept me. And anyone who does not accept me does not accept the One who sent me."

17 The 72 returned with joy. They said, "Lord, even the demons obey us when we speak in your name."

18 Jesus replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

19 I have given you authority to walk all over snakes and scorpions. You will be able to destroy all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.

20 But do not be glad when the evil spirits obey you. Instead, be glad that your names are written in heaven."

21 At that time Jesus was full of joy through the Holy Spirit. He said, "I praise you, Father. You are Lord of heaven and earth. You have hidden these things from the wise and educated. But you have shown them to little children. Yes, Father. This is what you wanted.

22 "My Father has given all things to me. The Father is the only one who knows who the Son is. And the only ones who know the Father are the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to make the Father known."

23 Then Jesus turned to his disciples. He said to them in private, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.

24 I tell you, many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see. But they didn't see it. They wanted to hear what you hear. But they didn't hear it."