The seventy

Who the seventy were

A wider circle of disciples whom Jesus sent out two by two ahead of him to every town he was about to visit. They came back rejoicing that even the demons obeyed them in his name.

1. The Lord appoints seventy others and sends them two by two. (Some early manuscripts read seventy-two.)

   ScriptureLuke 10:1

2. “The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few.”

   ScriptureLuke 10:2

3. He sends them as lambs among wolves, without purse or sandals, to say, “Peace be to this house.”

   ScriptureLuke 10:3–9

4. They return with joy; Jesus tells them to rejoice rather that their names are written in heaven.

   ScriptureLuke 10:17–20

5. Eusebius says no list of the seventy survives, but names Barnabas, Sosthenes, Matthias and Thaddaeus among them.

   HistoryEusebius, Church History 1.12

6. Eusebius records that Thomas sent Thaddaeus, one of the seventy, to heal King Abgar of Edessa.

   TraditionEusebius, Church History 1.13

7. Later Church lists give names for all seventy; these lists differ.

   Tradition

Sources: The Holy Bible (World English Bible); Eusebius, Church History.

Drafted from the Bible and Church tradition. Each line says where it comes from; anything marked Tradition or History is not in Scripture itself. Waiting for review by a priest or editor.

Sundays with The seventy

1. 13 June 2027

   Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

   Gospel: Luke 10:1–16

   Followers of Jesus beyond the twelve. Church tradition lists their names.

   In the story

   • Two by two Luke 10:1

About the icon

The Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.