Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Luke 10:1

1, 17. ἑβδομήκοντα. אACL, Pesh. and the best edd. ἑβδομήκοντα δύο. BD, Vulg[212] &c.

[212] Vulg. Vulgate.

1. μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα, i.e. after finally leaving Galilee, and starting on His great Peraean progress.

ἀνέδειξεν. ‘He appointed.’ Comp. ἀνάδειξις in Luke 1:80 and ἀνάδειξον in Acts 1:24.

καὶ ἑτέρους ἑβδομήκοντα. ‘Also others’ (besides the Twelve) ‘seventy in number.’ (Comp. ἕτεροι δύο, Luke 23:32.) Some MSS. read seventy-two (BDM, &c.). The number had evident reference to the Elders of Moses (Numbers 11:16), where there is the same variation; the numbers of the Sanhedrin; and the Jewish belief (derived from Genesis 10) as to the number of the nations of the world. It is true that no special allusion is here made to the Gentiles. The references to Elim with its 12 wells and 70 palm-trees are mere plays of allegoric fancy. Doubtless, as Ewald says, many of these 70 may have been among the 120 of Acts 1:15.

ἀνὰ δύο. The same merciful provision that we see in the brother-pairs of the Twelve.

εἰς πᾶσαν πόλιν, &c. Clearly with the same object as in Luke 9:52. It may have been all the more necessary because hitherto He had worked less in the Transjordanic regions.

οὗ. In grammatical strictness we should have had οἷ, ‘whither,’ but the use of adverbs of rest with verbs of motion is very common. Comp. ποῦ and ἐκεῖ, in Luke 12:17-18.

ἤμελλεν αὐτὸς ἔρχεσθαι. He intended to come in person.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Luke 10:1

Old Testament

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