The Work of the Seventy-Two Followers

10 Later the Lord chose 72 other followers and sent them out two by two to every town and village where he was about to go. ²  He said to them:
A large crop is in the fields, but there are only a few workers. Ask the Lord in charge of the harvest to send out workers to bring it in. ³  Now go, but remember, I am sending you like lambs into a pack of wolves. ⁴  Don’t take along a moneybag or a traveling bag or sandals. And don’t waste time greeting people on the road.  ⁵ As soon as you enter a home, say, “God bless this home with peace.”  ⁶ If the people living there are peace-loving, your prayer for peace will bless them. But if they are not peace-loving, your prayer will return to you. ⁷  Stay with the same family, eating and drinking whatever they give you, because workers are worth what they earn. Don’t move around from house to house.

⁸ If the people of a town welcome you, eat whatever they offer. ⁹ Heal their sick and say, “God’s kingdom will soon be here!”
¹⁰  But if the people of a town refuse to welcome you, go out into the street and say, ¹¹ “We are shaking the dust from our feet as a warning to you. And you can be sure that God’s kingdom will soon be here!”

The Return of the Seventy-Two

¹⁷ When the 72 followers returned, they were excited and said, “Lord, even the demons obeyed when we spoke in your name!”
¹⁸ Jesus told them:
I saw Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. ¹⁹  I have given you the power to trample on snakes and scorpions and to defeat the power of your enemy Satan. Nothing can harm you. ²⁰ But don’t be happy because evil spirits obey you. Be happy that your names are written in heaven!

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