10:1Luke 10:1

After the sending of the twelve, some months later near the close of His ministry on His last journey to Jerusalem, Jesus appointed seventy others also and sent them two and two before His face into every city and place where He Himself would come to awaken interest and prepare the way for His personal coming.Ms 141, 1902, par. 2–4+4 Their message was that the kingdom of God had come nigh and Jesus was the Messiah, calling men to repent and believe the gospel, and their sending carried His authority so that receiving them was receiving Christ and rejecting them was rejecting Christ and the Father who sent Him.Ms 55, 1894, par. 2+3 Unlike the twelve who were sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, the seventy were sent into Samaria and regions formerly forbidden, putting into practice that the gospel was to reach all nations and not Israel only.Ms 55, 1894, par. 2+3 Christ's order is to send workers two and two and not alone, that united minds may counsel and pray together, diverse gifts complement and correct each other, and workers help, strengthen and encourage one another instead of one man's judgment and character controlling the work.Ms 141, 1902, par. 2–4+4 Their mission joined preaching the word with healing the sick and casting out devils in His name as one undivided gospel work, which is the pattern for workers now to go forth in little companies as gospel medical missionary evangelists.CH 603.1+4

After the sending of the twelve, some months later Jesus appointed seventy others also and sent them ahead of him.Ms 55, 1894, par. 2+4 He appointed seventy men in addition to the twelve and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place where he himself would come and follow after.Ms 141, 1902, par. 2–4+3 They constituted the church of Christ at that time, and after sending out the twelve he brought men in and placed them in responsibility to preach the kingdom of God and the gospel of truth.Lt 89, 1893, par. 2–4+1

The sending came near the close of his ministry on his last journey to Jerusalem.ST Jun 25, 1896+1 Before, he had sought to shun excitement and publicity, refused the homage of the people, passed quickly from place to place, commanded that none should declare him to be the Christ, and gone to the Feast of Tabernacles swiftly and secretly because his time was not yet come.DA 485.1–3 Now he traveled in the most public manner by a circuitous route from Galilee toward Jerusalem and sent messengers ahead to every place he was about to visit, giving such an announcement of his coming as he had never made before, and their paired journeys helped cover a wide area.ST Jun 25, 1896+1

He sent them to awaken interest in his work, to prepare people to receive the truths he would teach, to proclaim that he was the Messiah, and to prepare the way for his personal coming as John had prepared the way.Lt 119, 1905, par. 14–17+3 Their mission led into the events in which they returned rejoicing over the authority given them in his name.Ms 108, 1899, par. 14–19 They had been trained through time with him and had heard his teaching, though they had not stayed constantly with him, and were now sent on a separate mission to work as he did and to gain practical field experience.DA 488.4–6+2 The work he began with a few grew from twelve to seventy as they were formed by his teaching and then helped educate others, building on the foundation of truth and extending the mission, providing a model for preparing ministers.Lt 154a, 1900, par. 7–8+1

Each was entrusted with a message to the world and was active and blessed in his service, with varied experiences, trials and opposition.Lt 119, 1905, par. 23 They returned rejoicing that devils were subject to them through his name.Ms 108, 1899, par. 14–19+1 He did this publicly because he was going forward to the scene of his great sacrifice, and the attention of the people must be directed to it, so that as the eyes of all Israel had been directed to the uplifted serpent for healing, all eyes must be drawn to Christ as the sacrifice bringing salvation to the lost world.DA 485.1–3

The seventy were sent to announce that the kingdom of God had come near and that Jesus was the Messiah, proclaiming His divine character, messianic identity, work and mission wherever He Himself would come.ST Dec 10, 1894+3 Their proclamation called people to repent and believe the gospel as part of the invitation to the feast, declaring that the time of visitation had come and that all who received its message and messenger could enter the kingdom.Lt 119, 1905, par. 22+2 In doing this they publicly bore witness to Him as God's Sent One, with prophecy fulfilled during His final journey to Jerusalem so that Scripture's testimony to His character and mission would be unmistakable.ST Dec 10, 1894

They were entrusted with truths about redemption and God's moral government to teach people in darkness so they could grasp the blessings available to them.ST Dec 10, 1894+1 What He had revealed to them they were to pass on to others, holding the good news of salvation in trust.ST Dec 10, 1894+1 That training fitted them for growing personal work that would increase with their numbers until it eventually reached the whole world.AA 32.1

Their sending carried Christ's authority, so that receiving them meant receiving Christ and hearing them meant hearing Christ, while rejecting them meant rejecting Christ and the Father who sent Him.Ms 55, 1894, par. 2

Their work is pictured as reaping a harvest already white to eternal life, gathering people through labor begun by others.IRCUP 4.3–5.1+2 Christ sent them into towns and villages to preach the kingdom ahead of His coming, entering into that prepared harvest.IRCUP 4.3–5.1+2 Peter afterward took up that same harvest work in his Pentecost sermon when three thousand souls were added.Ms 155, 1904, par. 67–70

Their commission followed the same pattern as the twelve's: they were to preach the kingdom, share Christ's grace, and depend on the households they served for food and lodging.Lt 45, 1900, par. 44–47 The welcome and support they received helped guide where they should give time and instruction, so they were to use judgment and not spend strength indiscriminately.Lt 45, 1900, par. 44–47 Their mission belonged to personal gospel work rather than to building institutions to house and support everyone.Lt 45, 1900, par. 44–47

The eleven and the seventy were to work intelligently by dispersing themselves, showing the need for widespread, organized preaching that lifts up Christ and covers a wide area.Ms 185, 1903, par. 18

Unlike the twelve, who were forbidden to go to Gentiles or Samaritans and were sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, the seventy were given similar directions but were sent into Samaria and regions formerly forbidden.Ms 55, 1894, par. 2+1 They were not forbidden to enter Gentile or Samaritan towns, and they went first to Samaria.DA 488.4–6 That going first to Samaria showed that rejection there had not changed love for the Samaritans.DA 488.4–6 Their work there prepared for the later preaching in Samaria where people welcomed the disciples and many believed.DA 488.4–6

Their mission put into practice the growing understanding that the gospel was to reach all nations, not only Israel.ST Dec 10, 1894 It broke beyond Jewish narrowness and prejudice against other nations, to plant truth in all hearts and invite everyone to come and receive life by believing in the name.ST Dec 10, 1894 The world was their field, and the light they carried was to reach every part of it.Ms 64, 1894, par. 8 Proclaiming God's kingdom through Judea, their work was part of the mission to save the world and to train workers, teaching that piety must spread outward and that service for Christ is the duty of every believer.16MR 203.1+1 The church is thus to enlarge its work beyond narrow circles and plans until it reaches the whole world, without boundaries based on distinctions between Jew and Gentile, so that people everywhere may receive the light and through faith lay hold of immortality and be delivered from Satan's snares.Ms 25, 1897, par. 10

Their mission prepared the way for the inclusion of the Gentiles, who were no longer to remain outside the people of God.ST Dec 10, 1894 As Jesus was soon to leave his followers, the Holy Spirit would lead them into all truth and illuminate the Scriptures given through the patriarchs and prophets.ST Dec 10, 1894 Lessons of mercy toward Samaritans had prepared the seventy to represent that spirit and to meet former enemies with meekness, tenderness and love rather than controversy or prejudice, despite the deep prejudice between Samaritans and Jews.Ms 99, 1894, par. 7–9 Therefore every person, even a bitter opponent, is to be treated as neighbor with respect while presenting the truth, bringing light and truth to all who need them without distinguishing neighbor from enemy.Ms 64, 1894, par. 8+2

Christ's order and plan for gospel work is to send workers two and two and not alone, so no one is to take sole charge of an effort or try to begin and carry forward a work entirely alone, and sending one man alone into a new country or city to open the work is contrary to that order.19MR 126.5–127.1+4 This applies to laborers going out to extend the work into new fields and to opening a new field with at least two ministers laboring together rather than one working alone.15MR 59.1–3+2 Sending two by two provides united counsel and effort because one person's judgment, mind, plans and methods are not sufficient or altogether perfect, while another mind differently constituted sees bearings and things more clearly.Ms 141, 1902, par. 2–4+1 Pairing joins diverse characters and gifts to complement and correct each other, as impulsive, bold, ardent Peter with mild and loving John, so one reaches a class the other cannot, decisiveness supplies lack of decision, and patience, forbearance and love counteract a rash and impetuous spirit that would do harm if not modified, with differing temperaments balancing weaknesses.HSFM 126.3–4+1

Companionship lets workers help, encourage and strengthen one another, counsel and pray together, study together, contribute different thoughts in teaching, care for each other in sickness, strengthen each other where one is weak, and share the burdens of sustained work rather than growing too weary alone.EW 83.1+4 Working together rather than alone promotes cooperation and guards against the self-will and division that come from insisting on one's own ideas.Lt 48a, 1900, par. 21 Paired service keeps no one man's ideas, plans, mold and education from having controlling power, guards against standing apart to argue one's own ways, prevents personal faults from being mistaken for virtues, keeps the work from being narrowed and circumscribed to one man's character, and ensures it can continue when one must leave or cannot keep laboring.LSEGW 302.3+3 It keeps one worker's education in a certain direction or traits of character from becoming dominant to the harm of the work, and keeps the work carried forward with efficiency and in perfect agreement with general oversight of every place.LSEGW 302.3+2 One man alone grows too weary to follow up pulpit effort with teaching and ministering, while two divide the labor, and it is better when the two do not labor in the same manner so that one man's mold and ideas do not have too great power over minds.Lt 60, 1886, par. 6

Two may divide the labor and work in different manners, separate to reach more places, then meet again often to renew courage, consult about opened places, decide which gifts are most needed and how best to reach the heart, and separate again with renewed energy, while keeping their souls in the love of God and praying much for the Holy Spirit to cooperate with them.EW 83.1+3 This makes possible close personal labor outside the pulpit — explaining Scripture, talking with people, praying with them, showing the spirit of Jesus in meekness and patience, patiently bearing with ignorance, opposition and objections — which tells more than arguments and discourses alone, especially to keep newly come believers from losing the force of truth and receiving incorrect ideas.Lt 60, 1886, par. 6 When united in love and harmony, seeking the Lord in prayer together, planning and studying together, and communing about the very best course for presenting the truth as it is in Jesus, far more work is done that does not prove a failure.Ms 79, 1893, par. 12–14 Servants of God should search out souls in new places rather than going over and over the same field, holding up each other's hands in the darkest places with most opposition and the most labor needed, while those already established in the truth should stand alone and strengthen others around them.SCEV 22.1–2+1 They are to go out two and two into new places wherever there is an opening, with God going before them to open hearts to hear, setting the truth before those in darkness with united efforts and strong faith and laboring with feeling hearts to save perishing souls.SCEV 22.1–2+1

Both workers are to exert a good influence on each other, blend in perfect harmony while preserving individuality and laboring according to several ability, neither molding the other to his own ideas and style of character, united in love, exercising faith, abiding in Christ and depending on his invisible presence for success.Lt 1, 1883, par. 49–52+3 Mission fields must be manned with several laborers who hold council together often, advise and counsel one another, and lay plans open for criticism and improvement.Lt 1, 1883, par. 49–52 The pattern pairs an inexperienced worker with one of more experience who can teach and help, as the Vaudois or Waldensian missionaries did in linking young workers with older guides responsible for training, strengthening one another through prayer, counsel and study of the word of life, so both younger and elder receive blessing.CEv 89.3+4 Lack of money to pay expenses, pressure of a growing interest holding another worker elsewhere, and absence of particular encouragement or promise of support do not change the plan that should be followed, and workers are to go forward praying, singing, teaching and living the truth.Lt 41, 1894, par. 2+1

Luke 10:1 records that the Lord appointed seventy disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to the places he himself intended to visit, and their commission joined preaching the word with healing the sick and casting out devils in his name.CH 603.1+4 They were sent to preach the Word and to preach the kingdom of God just as he had sent the twelve apostles, with authority to heal and to cast out demons given as part of the same sending.CH 561.1+3 Their preaching of the gospel and their healing were therefore done in Jesus' name and by his appointment, following the pattern already given to the twelve.Ms 130, 1905, par. 29+2

These works were not separate ministries but parts of one gospel work, with medical missionary work joined to the ministry of the word as one undivided work.CH 603.1+4 Teaching and healing belong together in God's work and are not to be separated or divided into separate lines, but are to be carried forward together.6T 292.1–2+4 The messengers of the Lord today are to enter the work in that same united way, after the example of the seventy who carried both preaching and healing to the places where he would come.6T 292.1–2+1

Restoring physical health prepared people to receive the truth, as shown in caring for the sick and then preaching that God's kingdom had come near.CH 33.2–3

The sending of the seventy is the remedy for present necessities, reaching convicted souls asking what they must do to inherit eternal life, and it calls ministers to work with intensity of desire and perseverance rather than preaching long discourses that put the crib too high and accomplish only a hundredth part of what must be realized.Ms 21, 1889, par. 36–38 Many were ready to receive the message, which shows the broad scope of the harvest field and the need to pray for God to send more workers.ST Dec 10, 1894 God's people have a serious work demanding the whole being — heart, mind, soul, and strength — not confined to believers but seeking unbelievers, becoming acquainted with them and placing truth before those living up to all the light they have, reaching precious souls in the cities with love for God shown in love for those for whom He gave His only begotten Son, using the open door His death provides to bring others into fellowship with the saints.Lt 148, 1902, par. 5–6

Disciples are appointed to go forth now in little companies as gospel medical missionary evangelists, and they cannot afford to spend years in preparation, because doors now open to the truth will soon be forever closed and waiting lets the enemy take possession of fields now open.STB 437.5+1 That appointed present work is to labor as evangelists scattering publications, talking the truth to those met, praying for the sick, ministering to necessities with nature's remedies and not with drugs, teaching how to regain health and avoid disease.STB 437.5+1 The same model sends Christian workers and Sabbath-keeping families among people to help the sick with simple treatments and pray with them, opening the way for truth, studying health reform and sharing what they learn.Ms 19, 1911, par. 7–8

The two-by-two pattern is the rule for opening new fields and for thorough work in churches small and large, for working cities and their suburbs, for unworked cities, and for different parts of all large cities where workers meet often for counsel and prayer to work effectively and harmoniously and establish centers.ST Jan 23, 1893+4 It sends workers into American cities with a special message to seek people in darkness, including the fallen and degraded, and to gather those in the highways and hedges who need saving, because Satan's agencies confuse minds with vain imaginations so they will not become interested in truth.Ms 33, 1899, par. 6–7 No one man is to be asked to labor alone in a city or authorized to carry the work by himself, but disciples are to work and plan and pray together, with faithful men chosen to bear responsibilities and to labor decidedly trusting in the Lord under wise leadership as genuine missionary work in the cities.Lt 124, 1909, par. 7–9

Gospel ministers are to take medical missionary workers with them into their fields of labor, two here and two there, and receive these medical missionaries as they would receive Christ.6T 299.4 This pairing brings heaven's vital current into the churches, gives the education so much needed, leads souls to testify that God in rich mercy has quickened them together with Christ and raised them to sit in heavenly places, and meets the great need for unity and perfect oneness.6T 299.4 Medical missionary and gospel workers are to be sent into the field rather than gathered and confined in one place.Ms 141, 1903, par. 3–4

The pattern applies to church members going two by two into the harvest field to work for the Lord.Ms 88a, 1905, par. 5+1 It is the model for believers to work in pairs in neighborhoods and nearby settlements, teaching the way of salvation and warning the world, carrying books and papers while adding personal witness, going into homes with Bible readings, and doing house-to-house work trusting God.Ms 53, 1910, par. 5–8+2

It applies to canvassers and canvasser-evangelists going in pairs to circulate books containing present truth, visit families, take Bible instruction into cities and other places where Christ's work is needed, and carry truth from family to family by speaking, singing and praying, and this includes women as well as men.RH Oct 7, 1902+4 Youth are to be connected with those older in experience who are devoted to God, so the older can teach them in the things of God and show them how best to work for Him, with young evangelists and Bible workers going with experienced workers who teach them how to labor, and following right methods energetically gathers a harvest of souls.RH Oct 7, 1902+1

It provides the pattern for small groups and small companies of workers to go out as evangelists into cities, giving a warning message and teaching that God created the world, rested on the seventh day, blessed it and set the Sabbath apart as a memorial of creation, sharing truth and ministering to needs.Lt 108, 1907, par. 5+1 The same sending directs workers to seek people in darkness in American cities, including the fallen and degraded in highways and hedges who need saving.Ms 33, 1899, par. 6–7 Believers are also to leave the cities and go as missionaries two and two in humility and the fear of God to country places, mountain settlements, byways and highways, following Christ's example and bearing the message given to the first disciples that the kingdom of God is come nigh, and those who do this will receive the Lord's blessing and will recover physical health.Ms 65, 1908, par. 13

Workers sent in pairs are to work in His Spirit and follow His plans, trusting the Lord to care for the work and angels to prepare the way even if an unfaithful person joins them, as the way to carry the testing message to every large city.Ms 21, 1910, par. 6 Work in the great centers calls for strong men appointed to labor there with many young men and women associated with them to work humbly in harmony with the instructions given at the sending, which was necessary then and is even more necessary now, requiring great ingenuity in presenting eternal life so souls are reached and converted, and requiring workers themselves to be thoroughly converted to present truth with tenderness that wins hearts.Ms 25, 1908, par. 2 They are to work and plan and pray together under wise leadership with faithful men bearing responsibility and laboring decidedly trusting in the Lord.Lt 124, 1909, par. 7–9

Those who go out in Christ's name for the spiritual uplifting of people will have temporal needs supplied by God's power.Lt 317, 1907, par. 6 Two or more are to start together in evangelistic work even without particular encouragement or promise of support, going forward praying, singing, teaching and living the truth, taking up canvassing to introduce truth into families and isolated places, gaining blessed experience while humbled by poverty and helplessness, with the Lord going before to give favor among wealthy and poor, coming close in friendship where one imparts the treasures of the Word and the other imparts temporal sustenance so both are blessed and even poverty becomes access to isolated ones who would otherwise never be won, and this self-supporting work begun small and humbly by all who have received truth enlarges under the Spirit and succeeds where Providence opens the way.Ms 54, 1901, par. 7–9

Experienced workers are to select young men or men of mature age to go with them and train them under supervision, so scores of helpers are fitted for usefulness as Bible readers, canvassers and family visitors, visiting families and making personal effort in both dying churches and new places.Lt 34, 1886, par. 51–55 This demands broad vision, tact, skill and wise generalship to see talent, seize it and put it to use, giving encouragement and correcting mistakes with tender compassion instead of disheartening workers or holding back for fear of using means, leaving caution that blocks progress, adopting the go-forward principle, growing with the work and acting now to warn the world, for God will not work a miracle to advance truth but uses men and women thrust into the harvest field.Lt 34, 1886, par. 51–55 The paired work of opening Scriptures and bearing mercy to the world is solemn, and care must be taken in selecting those who engage in it by testing whether they are sound in doctrine and sound in experience.Ms 51, 1886, par. 8

Scattering workers singly to cover more territory brings loss, while Christ's way is best when two together qualified by the Holy Spirit, denying self and taking up the cross as true disciples, knowing the truth, standing firm and willing to carry burdens, accomplish an important work in cities and their suburbs.ST Jan 23, 1893 One man alone grows too weary to follow pulpit effort with teaching and ministering, while two divide the labor, and it is better when the two do not labor in the same manner so one man's mold and ideas do not have too great power over minds.Lt 60, 1886, par. 6 Their work includes vigilant personal labor for individuals with zeal and courage and prayerful reliance on heaven's power, explaining Scripture, talking and praying with people, showing the spirit of Jesus in meekness and patience and patiently bearing ignorance, opposition and objections, which tells more than arguments and discourses alone and keeps newly come believers from losing the force of truth or receiving incorrect ideas.Lt 52, 1911, par. 11–12+1 Workers once in darkness who have seen great light need baptism with the Holy Spirit to realize their duty to let the light shine to others in darkness.ST Jan 23, 1893