The term "Disciple" refers to a follower or student of a teacher, leader, or philosopher. In the context of the New Testament, disciples are primarily associated with Jesus Christ, who had many followers during His earthly ministry. Among these, a particular group known as "The Seventy" (or "Seventy-Two" in some manuscripts) holds a significant place in the Gospel narrative.

Biblical Account

The account of the Seventy is found in the Gospel of Luke, specifically in Luke 10:1-24. This passage describes how Jesus appointed seventy (or seventy-two) of His followers and sent them out in pairs to every town and place He was about to visit. The mission of these disciples was to prepare the way for Jesus, proclaiming the Kingdom of God and performing acts of healing.

The Berean Standard Bible renders the beginning of this account as follows: "After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to visit" (Luke 10:1). This mission underscores the importance of spreading the message of the Kingdom and the role of discipleship in the early Christian movement.

Purpose and Mission

The sending of the Seventy highlights several key aspects of Jesus' ministry and the early Christian mission:

1. Preparation for Jesus' Arrival: The Seventy were sent to prepare the hearts and minds of the people for Jesus' teachings and presence. Their mission was to announce the coming of the Kingdom of God, echoing the message that Jesus Himself proclaimed.

2. Empowerment and Authority: Jesus endowed these disciples with authority to heal the sick and cast out demons, demonstrating the power of God at work through His followers. This empowerment was a testament to the divine authority of Jesus and the transformative power of the Gospel.

3. Dependence on God: Jesus instructed the Seventy to travel light, carrying no purse, bag, or sandals, and to rely on the hospitality of those they encountered (Luke 10:4-7). This directive emphasized trust in God's provision and the importance of faith in the mission.

4. Joy in Service: Upon their return, the Seventy rejoiced, saying, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name" (Luke 10:17). Jesus responded by affirming their success and reminding them that their true joy should be in their salvation and eternal life (Luke 10:20).

Theological Significance

The mission of the Seventy is significant for several reasons:

- Universal Mission: The sending of the Seventy prefigures the Great Commission, where Jesus commands His followers to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). It reflects the universal scope of the Gospel and the call for all believers to participate in the mission of God.

- Model of Discipleship: The Seventy serve as a model for Christian discipleship, demonstrating obedience, faith, and reliance on God's power. Their mission exemplifies the call to be active participants in God's redemptive work in the world.

- Spiritual Warfare: The authority given to the Seventy over demons highlights the reality of spiritual warfare and the victory of God's Kingdom over the forces of darkness. It reassures believers of the power and authority they have in Christ.

In summary, the account of the Seventy (or Seventy-Two) disciples sent forth by Jesus is a profound illustration of the early Christian mission, the authority of Christ, and the call to discipleship. It serves as an enduring reminder of the responsibility and privilege of proclaiming the Gospel and participating in the work of God's Kingdom.Luke 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, where he himself would come.
Nave's Topical Index

On the Words, and Rose Again from the Dead on the Third Day, and ...
... Spirit should be given to his holy disciple; but that ... is wholly is understood by
the Seventy, whom S ... A. tois idiois, "Your own countrymen," a better reading in ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture xiv on the words.htm

Acts i. 12
... The seventy perhaps whom Christ Himself had chosen, and other of ... every man to his
own home, that disciple had taken ... ktl "Peter has now become a better man than ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily iii acts i 12.htm

Letter Lxxv. (AD 404. )
... forgiveth thyself the circumcision of a disciple coming from ... you must intend to say
something better than they ... it is not believed that the Seventy could have ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter lxxv a d 404.htm

Acts ix. 10, 12
... of the thing took possession of the disciple's mind, so ... but Ananias who was one of
the Seventy:" and afterwards ... Let him remain blind, it is better so." The ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xx acts ix 10.htm

The Jewish Dispersion in the West - the Hellenists - Origin of ...
... tend to make an earnest Jew a disciple of the ... the Greek (Japheth) was regarded as
typical, was seventy. ... version, which, for want of better terms, we would ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ii the jewish dispersion.htm

Concerning the Unity of God . On the Article, I Believe in one God ...
... For the delusion began full seventy years ago [903] , and ... Both AV and RV follow the
better reading: "because ... wrongly attributed by Cyril to a disciple of Manes ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture vi concerning the unity.htm

Chronology of the Life of Christ.
... and encourages the hope of a still better solution in ... of Christ's birth and passion
from the seventy weeks of ... a disciple of Polycarp, who was a disciple of St. ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 16 chronology of the.htm

[Endnotes]
... Gnostic heresiarchs, said to be a disciple of Theodas ... Hellenistas], but the common
rending is better supported by ... consisting of not more than seventy-two members ...
//christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/endnotes.htm

Dialogue ii. --The Unconfounded.
... For with seventy-five souls, it says, Israel came down into Egypt ... his life, when
writing his last letter to his disciple Timothy, and ... Eran."We had better so do ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/dialogue ii the unconfounded.htm

Life and Works of Rufinus with Jerome's Apology Against Rufinus.
... this old friendship to purloin and falsify his mss. ... try to bring him to a better
mind and ... I attended frequently and earnestly, Macarius the disciple of Anthony ...
/.../various/life and works of rufinus with jeromes apology against rufinus /

Who was Philip in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is Christian discipleship? | GotQuestions.org

What did Jesus mean when He said, “Woman, behold your son” on the cross? | GotQuestions.org

Disciple: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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