Lk 10:1-12
1The Lord appointed seventy[-two] others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. 2He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. 3Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. 4Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. 5Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ 6If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.
7Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. 8Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, 9cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’ 10Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, 11‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.’ Yet know this: the kingdom of God is at hand. 12I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.”
SEVENTY[-TWO] OTHER DISCIPLES: Seventy is a symbolic number, representing the sum or fullness of entities. In Genesis 10, the so-called table of nations lists 70 nations of the world, and Abraham emerges from these nations as the head of a new people of God’s choosing (Gn 12). Abraham, in turn, through Jacob, becomes a family of 70 that goes down to Egypt (Gn 46:27). The 70 of Jacob become multitude in Egypt but they are represented by the 70 elders of Israel (Ex 24:1). In later Judaism, the 70 elders of ancient Israel form the basis for the 70 elders who traditionally make up the Jewish council called the Sanhedrin.
Luke presents the unique account of Jesus appointing 70 (some texts read 72) disciples who, in addition to the Twelve (apostles), are sent on a mission. Perhaps the number corresponds to the 70 nations of the world and suggests an incipient universal mission to the Gentiles initiated by Jesus.
The growth and spread of the Christian faith are not only owed to the pillars (the twelve apostles) but also to the 70 disciples of whom Luke the evangelist is surely a worthy representative.