Bible reading

Luke 10:1-12

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-two

10 After this the Lord appointed 72 others. He sent them out two by two ahead of him. They went to every town and place where he was about to go.

He told them, “The harvest is huge, but the workers are few. So ask the Lord of the harvest 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 don’t greet anyone on the road.

“When you enter a house, first say, ‘May this house be blessed with peace.’ If someone there loves peace, your blessing of peace will rest on him. If not, it will return to you. Stay in that house. Eat and drink anything they give you. Workers are worthy of their pay. Do not move around from house to house.

“When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set down in front of you. Heal the sick people who are there. Tell them, ‘God’s kingdom is near you.’

10 “But what if you enter a town and are not welcomed? Then go into its streets and say, 11 ‘We wipe off even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet. We do it to show that God isn’t pleased with you. But here is what you can be sure of. God’s kingdom is near.’

12 “I tell you this. On judgment day it will be easier for Sodom than for that town.