Commentaries:
Adam Clarke
The Lord appointed other seventy - Rather, seventy others, not other seventy, as our translation has it, which seems to intimate that he had appointed seventy before this time, though, probably, the word other has a reference to the twelve chosen first: he not only chose twelve disciples to be constantly with him; but he chose seventy others to go before him. Our blessed Lord formed every thing in his Church on the model of the Jewish Church; and why? Because it was the pattern shown by God himself, the Divine form, which pointed out the heavenly substance which now began to be established in its place. As he before had chosen twelve apostles, in reference to the twelve patriarchs, who were the chiefs of the twelve tribes, and the heads of the Jewish Church, he now publicly appointed (for so the word means) seventy others, as Moses did the seventy elders whom he associated with himself to assist him in the government of the people. Exodus 18:19; Exodus 24:1-9. These Christ sent by two and two:
1.To teach them the necessity of concord among the ministers of righteousness.
2.That in the mouths of two witnesses every thing might be established. And,
3.That they might comfort and support each other in their difficult labor. See on Mark 6:7 (note).
Several MSS. and versions have seventy-two. Sometimes the Jews chose six out of each tribe: this was the number of the great Sanhedrin. The names of these seventy disciples are found in the margin of some ancient MSS., but this authority is questionable.
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Matthew 10:1
Matthew 20:15
Matthew 22:2
Mark 6:7
Mark 9:38
Luke 22:36
Acts 1:15
Acts 11:30
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