The account of the seventy disciples, also referred to as the seventy-two in some manuscripts, is a significant narrative in the New Testament that highlights the miraculous works performed through the servants of God. This event is primarily recorded in the Gospel of Luke, where Jesus appoints these disciples to go ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to visit.

Commissioning of the Seventy Disciples

In Luke 10:1-2 , it is written: "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. 'The harvest is plentiful,' He said, 'but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.'" This commissioning underscores the divine authority and purpose given to these disciples as they were sent out to prepare the way for Jesus.

Authority Over Demons and Healing

The seventy disciples were endowed with the power to perform miracles, particularly in casting out demons and healing the sick. In Luke 10:9 , Jesus instructs them: "Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’" This directive not only emphasizes the miraculous healings they were to perform but also the proclamation of the Kingdom of God, which was central to their mission.

Return and Report of Miracles

Upon their return, the seventy disciples joyfully reported the miracles they had witnessed. Luke 10:17 states: "The seventy-two returned with joy and said, 'Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.'" This testimony highlights the authority of Jesus' name and the power granted to His servants to perform miraculous deeds.

Jesus' Response and Further Empowerment

Jesus responds to their report with a profound affirmation of their experiences and a deeper revelation of spiritual authority. In Luke 10:18-20 , He says: "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." Here, Jesus acknowledges the spiritual victories achieved through their mission while redirecting their focus to the eternal significance of their relationship with God.

Significance of the Miracles

The miracles performed by the seventy disciples serve as a testament to the power of God working through His chosen servants. These acts of healing and deliverance were not only signs of the coming Kingdom but also demonstrations of the authority and compassion of Jesus Christ. The narrative of the seventy disciples illustrates the broader theme of divine empowerment and the role of believers in advancing God's Kingdom on earth.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, the account of the seventy disciples underscores the importance of obedience, faith, and the authority granted to believers in the name of Jesus. It reflects the continuity of God's miraculous work through His people and the call for Christians to participate actively in the mission of the Church. The miracles wrought through the seventy disciples affirm the transformative power of the Gospel and the reality of spiritual warfare, encouraging believers to rely on the strength and authority given by Christ.Luke 10:9,17
And heal the sick that are therein, and say to them, The kingdom of God is come near to you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Gospel According to St. Luke
... with which he describes the healing wrought by Christ ... faith, but by "faith working
through love" (Galatians 5 ... to His mother and brethren, various miracles (viii ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter v the gospel according.htm

The First Evangelists
... His miracles testified to the truth of His words, that He ... their lips the works that
the Lord had wrought. ... Through His servants, God designs that the sick, the ...
/.../white/the desire of ages/chapter 37 the first evangelists.htm

City of God
... Chapter 12.--Of the Miracles Wrought by the True God ... are to Be Believed About the
Miracles Whereby the ... from the Animals Which Were Preserved, Through the Deluge ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/

Acts VII
... the admission, by his enemies, that he had wrought miracles. ... same people who so often
rejected the servants of God ... 53) who received the law through the ranks of ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts vii.htm

Extracts No. vi.
... of Jesus, his resurrection, and the miracles wrought by the ... And his name, through
faith in his name, hath ... the power of working many very astonishing miracles. ...
/.../ballou/a series of letters in defence of divine revelation/extracts no vi.htm

The Sovereignty of God in Operation
... peace for us: for Thou also hast wrought all our ... connection with Sihon, king of Heshbon,
through whose territory ... though He had done so many miracles before them ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter six the sovereignty of.htm

The Life of S. Hilarion.
... Once more he prepared for flight, and in thought ranged through solitary lands,
grieving that ... And yet in both places great miracles are wrought daily, but ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/the life of s hilarion.htm

Introductory Notice Respecting Tauler's Life and Times
... he preached before the remarkable change wrought in him ... by their learning or dazzling
them by miracles, outshining them ... to any one who goes through the evidence ...
/.../introductory notice respecting taulers life.htm

Acts ii. 22
... can do these miracles which Thou doest"By miracles, and wonders, and signs which
God wrought by Him ... reading is dia cheiros anomon, "through the hand ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily vi acts ii 22.htm

What Messiah did the Jews Expect?
... it is explained, that all the miracles and deliverances ... that He, Who taught and wrought
as none ... that point reached, the mind, looking back through the teaching ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter v what messiah did.htm

Are the miracles in the Bible to be taken literally? | GotQuestions.org

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