The Lord chose another seventy-two men. [A few manuscripts say seventy.] Only Luke tells this. It must have taken place after the events already given. Seventy-two may have been a symbolic number, and Grotius, et. al., connect it with the seventy-two members of the Sanhedrin. Since Jesus had already sent out the Twelve (Luke 9:1), it proves the deep influence of his teaching that he could find seventy-two more capable of being sent out. Two by two. So each could give the other "moral support." Also, at least two witnesses were required to establish truth under the Law. To every town and place. It was perhaps six months before his death. He wants to go to every town in person, and he sends these ahead as "advance-men" to prepare the people for his message.

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Old Testament