Ordination of the Seventy 

Near the end of 29 CE, Jesus was camped near the Sea of Galilee at Magadan Park with his apostles, his evangelistic corps, the women’s corps, and about one hundred and fifty other true and tried disciples from all parts of Palestine. It was here that Jesus and his twelve apostles began a course of intensive training for this special group of believers. This training began on Friday, November 4 and continued until Sabbath, November 19.

Jesus gave a talk to this company each morning. Peter taught methods of public preaching, Nathaniel instructed them in the art of teaching, Thomas explained how to answer questions, and Matthew directed the organization of their group finances. The other apostles also participated in this training in accordance with their special experience and natural talents.While the training was in progress, Jesus formed a committee to nominate candidates for a new corps, composed of trainees who would join his apostles in spreading the gospel message. This committee consisted of Andrew, Abner, and the acting head of the evangelistic corps. In all cases where this committee of three was not unanimous in agreement, the candidate was brought before Jesus. While the Master never rejected a single person who asked to be ordained, there were more than a dozen who, when they had talked with Jesus, no more desired to become gospel messengers.

From among those who applied for membership and completed the training, exactly seventy were approved to go forth and proclaim the gospel of the kingdom. This corps of seventy consisted of Abner and ten of the former apostles of John the Baptist, fifty-one of the earlier evangelists, and eight other disciples who had distinguished themselves in the service of the kingdom.

Before Jesus laid his hands upon the heads of the seventy to set them apart as gospel messengers, addressing them, he said:

"The harvest is indeed plenteous, but the laborers are few; therefore I exhort all of you to pray that the Lord of the harvest will send still other laborers into his harvest. I am about to set you apart as messengers of the kingdom; I am about to send you to Jew and gentile as lambs among wolves. As you go your ways, two and two, I instruct you to carry neither purse nor extra clothing, for you go forth on this first mission for only a short season. Salute no man by the way, attend only to your work. Whenever you go to stay at a home, first say: Peace be to this household. If those who love peace live therein, you shall abide there; if not, then shall you depart. And having selected this home, remain there for your stay in that city, eating and drinking whatever is set before you. And you do this because the laborer is worthy of his sustenance. Move not from house to house because a better lodging may be offered. Remember, as you go forth proclaiming peace on earth and good will among men, you must contend with bitter and self-deceived enemies; therefore be as wise as serpents while you are also as harmless as doves.

"And everywhere you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand,’ and minister to all who may be sick in either mind or body. Freely you have received of the good things of the kingdom; freely give. If the people of any city receive you, they shall find an abundant entrance into the Father’s kingdom; but if the people of any city refuse to receive this gospel, still shall you proclaim your message as you depart from that unbelieving community, saying, even as you leave, to those who reject your teaching: ‘Notwithstanding you reject the truth, it remains that the kingdom of God has come near you.’ He who hears you hears me. And he who hears me hears Him who sent me. He who rejects your gospel message rejects me. And he who rejects me rejects Him who sent me."

Abner, a trusted associate of Jesus, was placed at the head of these gospel preachers and teachers. Early on the day after the ordination, Abner sent the seventy messengers, in pairs, to all the cities of Galilee, Samaria, and Judea. These thirty-five couples went out preaching and teaching for about six weeks, all of them returning to a new camp near Pella, in Perea, on Friday, December 30, 29 CE.

Choosing and dispatching the seventy was recorded in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 10, verses 1-12.

"After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town."