I give = I have given. So L m T Tr. A WH R. power = authority. Greek. exousia. App-172 . on. Greek. epano, upon (from above). Not the sameword as in verses: Luk 34:35 , Luk 34:37 . over = upon. Greek. epi. App-104 . power = might. Greek. dunamis. App-172 . nothing . . . by any means. Greek. ouden. ., ou me. App-105 . read more
Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you.Tread upon serpents ... This was not an inducement to snake-handling, either for the seventy or to the Christians of all ages, but rather an affirmation of God's providence as exerted upon behalf of his servants in all generations. The symbolical meaning of "serpents and scorpions" is primarily "the works of the devil." The key to this verse is the... read more
Luke 10:19. Behold, I give unto you power, &c.— To tread on serpents is a proverbial expression, which signifies victory over enemies; accordingly, it is added, and over all the power of the enemy. Though these words, in the primary sense, imply, that the apostles should be preserved from these noxious creatures, as one of them literally was, (compare Act 28:5 and Mark 16:18.) yet they seem to have likewise a secondary sense, and to be a prediction that the disciples should obtain a... read more
19. Behold, I give you, c.—not for any renewal of their mission, though probably many of them afterwards became ministers of Christ but simply as disciples. serpents and scorpions—the latter more venomous than the former: literally, in the first instance (Mark 16:17; Mark 16:18; Acts 28:5); but the next words, "and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you," show that the glorious power of faith to "overcome the world" and "quench all the fiery darts of the wicked... read more
4. The joy of participation 10:17-20Luke stressed the joy that the Seventy experienced because they participated in God’s program (cf. Philippians 1:3-5). As we have noted before, Luke often referred to the joy that Jesus brought to people (cf. Luke 1:14; Luke 1:46; Luke 24:52; et al.). In view of Jesus’ preparatory instructions (Luke 10:1-16) we might have expected the Seventy to feel miserable and glad the experience was over. However that is not normally the result of serving Jesus... read more
The power that Jesus had given the Seventy to escape injury symbolized their ability to overcome Satan and His demons spiritually (cf. Revelation 12:13-17). Thus the connection with the previous verse is clear. Jesus probably referred to snakes and scorpions because they represented these spiritual foes (cf. Genesis 3:15). In other words, we should probably take His words figuratively rather than literally. This was evidently a special protection that Jesus gave His disciples during this... read more
10:19 power (b-6) Exousia . see Matthew 10:1 . The second 'power' in this verse is 'dunamis'. read more
The Seventy. The Good Samaritan. Martha and Mary1-16. Choice and mission of the Seventy (peculiar to Lk). Another step in the organisation of the Church. The Seventy receive a subordinate commission, similar to that of the apostles, to preach and to cast out devils (Luke 10:9, Luke 10:17). Two motives may be discerned in the sending forth of so numerous a body of missionaries. (1) The time before His Passion was now short, and Jesus wished the message of salvation to reach as many Israelites as... read more
(19) Behold, I give unto you . . .—The better MSS. have, “I have given,” as of something already bestowed in its completeness. In the power to “tread on serpents and scorpions,” we have a manifest reference to the words of Psalms 91:13. Those words stand in closest sequence with the promise which had been wrested from its true meaning by the Tempter in the great struggle in the wilderness; and it is not over-bold to think that they were connected with our Lord’s memories of that time, and... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Luke 10:1-24
82. The mission of the seventy (Luke 10:1-24)Earlier Jesus had sent twelve apostles into the northern areas because the work was more than he could do by himself in the short time available. Now, for a similar reason, he sent a much larger number into the southern regions through which he was travelling (Luke 10:1-2). The instructions Jesus gave to the seventy were similar to those he had given to the twelve (Luke 10:3-12; see also notes on Matthew 10:5-42). Being reminded of the earlier... read more