Luke 10 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 Now after these things, the Lord made selection of seventy others and sent them before him, two together, into every town and place where he himself was about to come.
1 Now after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every city and place where he was about to come.
2 And he said to them, There is much grain ready to be cut, but not enough workers: so make prayer to the Lord of the grain-fields that he will send workers to get in the grain.
2 Then he said to them, “The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers into his harvest.
3 Go on your way: see, I send you out like lambs among wolves.
3 Go your ways. Behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.
4 Take no bag for money or for food, and no shoes; say no word to any man on the way.
4 Carry no purse, nor wallet, nor sandals. Greet no one on the way.
5 And whenever you go into a house, first say, Peace be to this house.
5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’
6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will be with him: but if not, it will come back to you again.
6 If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.
7 And keep in that same house, taking what food and drink they give you: for the worker has a right to his reward. Do not go from house to house.
7 Remain in that same house, eating and drinking the things they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Don’t go from house to house.
8 And into whatever town you go, if they take you in, take whatever food is given to you:
8 Into whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat the things that are set before you.
9 And make well those in it who are ill and say to them, The kingdom of God is near to you.
9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’
10 But if you go into a town where they will not have you, go out into the streets of it and say,
10 But into whatever city you enter and they don’t receive you, go out into its streets and say,
11 Even the dust of your town, which is on our feet, we put off as a witness against you; but be certain of this, that the kingdom of God is near.
11 ‘Even the dust from your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’
12 I say to you, It will be better in that day for Sodom than for that town.
12 I tell you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.
13 A curse is on you, Chorazin! A curse is on you, Beth-saida! For if such works of power had been done in Tyre and Sidon as have been done in you, they would have been turned from their sins, in days gone by, seated in the dust.
13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
14 But it will be better for Tyre and Sidon, in the day of judging, than for you.
14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you.
15 And you, Capernaum, were you not lifted up to heaven? you will go down to hell.
15 You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades.
16 Whoever gives ear to you, gives ear to me; and whoever is against you, is against me; and whoever is against me, is against him who sent me.
16 Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
17 And the seventy came back with joy, saying, Lord, even the evil spirits are under our power in your name.
17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”
18 And he said, I was watching for Satan, falling from heaven like a star.
18 He said to them, “I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from heaven.
19 See, I have given you power to put your feet on snakes and evil beasts, and over all the strength of him who is against you: and nothing will do you damage.
19 Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you.
20 Do not be glad, however, because you have power over spirits, but because your names are recorded in heaven.
20 Nevertheless, don’t rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
21 In that same hour he was full of joy in the Holy Spirit and said, I give praise to you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have kept these things secret from the wise and the men of learning, and have made them clear to little children: for so, O Father, it was pleasing in your eyes.
21 In that same hour, Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight.”
22 All things have been given to me by my Father: and no one has knowledge of the Son, but only the Father: and of the Father, but only the Son, and he to whom the Son will make it clear.
22 Turning to the disciples, he said, “All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is, except the Father, and who the Father is, except the Son, and he to whomever the Son desires to reveal him.”
23 And, turning to the disciples, he said privately, Happy are the eyes which see the things you see:
23 Turning to the disciples, he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see,
24 For I say to you that numbers of prophets and kings have had a desire to see the things which you see, and have not seen them, and to have knowledge of the things which have come to your ears, and they had it not.
24 for I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see the things which you see, and didn’t see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and didn’t hear them.”
25 And a certain teacher of the law got up and put him to the test, saying, Master, what have I to do so that I may have eternal life?
25 Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 And he said to him, What does the law say, in your reading of it?
26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?”
27 And he, answering, said, Have love for the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and for your neighbour as for yourself.
27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”
28 And he said, You have given the right answer: do this and you will have life.
28 He said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.”
29 But he, desiring to put himself in the right, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
29 But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”
30 And Jesus, answering him, said, A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he got into the hands of thieves, who took his clothing and gave him cruel blows, and when they went away, he was half dead.
30 Jesus answered, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 And by chance a certain priest was going down that way: and when he saw him, he went by on the other side.
31 By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And in the same way, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, went by on the other side.
32 In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain man of Samaria, journeying that way, came where he was, and when he saw him, he was moved with pity for him,
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion,
34 And came to him and put clean linen round his wounds, with oil and wine; and he put him on his beast and took him to a house and took care of him.
34 came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 And the day after he took two pennies and gave them to the owner of the house and said, Take care of him; and if this money is not enough, when I come again I will give you whatever more is needed.
35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the host, and said to him, ‘Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.’
36 Which of these three men, in your opinion, was neighbour to the man who came into the hands of thieves?
36 Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?”
37 And he said, The one who had mercy on him. And Jesus said, Go and do the same.
37 He said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
38 Now, while they were on their way, he came to a certain town; and a woman named Martha took him into her house.
38 As they went on their way, he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister, by name Mary, who took her seat at the Lord's feet and gave attention to his words.
39 She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard his word.
40 But Martha had her hands full of the work of the house, and she came to him and said, Lord, is it nothing to you that my sister has let me do all the work? Say to her that she is to give me some help.
40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she came up to him, and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister left me to serve alone? Ask her therefore to help me.”
41 But the Lord, answering, said to her, Martha, Martha, you are full of care and troubled about such a number of things:
41 Jesus answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,
42 Little is needed, or even one thing only: for Mary has taken that good part, which will not be taken away from her.
42 but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Martha
A woman of Bethany who received Jesus into her home, was distracted with serving, and whose brother Lazarus Jesus raised.
Cited in the guide: Luke 10:38; John 11:1; John 11:5
Mary
Sister of Martha and Lazarus of Bethany, who sat at Jesus' feet to listen and who anointed the Lord's feet with perfume and wiped them with her hair.
Cited in the guide: Luke 10:39; John 11:1; John 11:2
Places
Jericho
Jericho guarded the eastern entrance to Canaan. The Old Testament city (Tell es-Sultan) fell to Joshua; Herodian Jericho nearby is where Jesus healed Bartimaeus and called Zacchaeus.
Cited in the guide: Joshua 6:20; Luke 19:1-10; Luke 10:30
Cross references (42)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Mark 6:7–13; Luke 9:52; Matthew 10:1–4; Numbers 11:24–26; Luke 3:4–6
- 2 Matthew 9:36–38; John 4:35–38; 1 Corinthians 3:6–9; Mark 16:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:12
- 3 Matthew 10:16; Acts 20:29; Ezekiel 2:3–6; John 15:20; John 10:12
- 4 Luke 22:35; 2 Kings 4:29; Luke 10:4–12; Mark 6:8–11; 2 Kings 4:24
- 5 1 Samuel 25:6; Matthew 10:12–13; Isaiah 57:19; Ephesians 2:17; 2 Corinthians 5:18–20
- 6 2 Thessalonians 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; 2 Corinthians 2:15–16; Ephesians 5:6; 1 Samuel 25:17
- 7 1 Timothy 5:17–18; Matthew 10:10–11; 1 Corinthians 9:4–15; 2 Timothy 2:6; Galatians 6:6
- 8 1 Corinthians 10:27; Matthew 10:40; Luke 9:48; Luke 10:10; John 13:20
- 9 Matthew 3:2; John 3:5; Luke 17:20–21; Acts 28:7–10; Luke 10:11
- 10 Acts 18:6; Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:51; Luke 9:5
- 11 Luke 10:9; Acts 13:51; Acts 13:46; Deuteronomy 30:11–14; Matthew 10:14
- 12 Matthew 10:15; Matthew 11:24; Mark 6:11; Lamentations 4:6
- 13 Isaiah 23:1–18; Matthew 11:20–23; Ezekiel 26:1–28:26; Joel 3:4–8; Acts 28:25–28
- 14 John 15:22–25; Luke 12:47–48; Romans 2:1; Romans 2:27; Amos 3:2
- 15 Isaiah 14:13–15; Matthew 4:13; 2 Peter 2:4; Luke 13:28; Matthew 11:23
- 16 John 13:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:8; Matthew 10:40; John 12:44; John 5:22–23
- 17 Romans 16:20; Luke 9:1; Mark 16:17; Luke 10:1; Luke 10:9
- 18 Revelation 12:7–9; Isaiah 14:12; Revelation 9:1; John 16:11; John 12:31
- 19 Psalm 91:13; Mark 16:18; Romans 16:20; Acts 28:5; Revelation 11:5
- 20 Revelation 20:15; Revelation 20:12; Matthew 7:22–23; Hebrews 12:23; Revelation 21:27
- 21 2 Corinthians 4:3; Matthew 13:11–16; Matthew 11:25–27; 1 Peter 2:1–2; 1 Corinthians 2:6–8
- 22 Matthew 11:27; John 1:18; John 6:44–46; John 10:15; John 17:26
- 23 Matthew 13:16–17
- 24 John 8:56; 1 Peter 1:10–12; Hebrews 11:13; Hebrews 11:39
- 25 Matthew 22:34–39; Luke 18:18; Acts 16:30–31; Matthew 19:16–19; Galatians 3:18
- 26 Romans 10:5; Isaiah 8:20; Galatians 3:21–22; Romans 3:19; Galatians 3:12–13
- 27 Mark 12:30–31; Matthew 22:37–40; Deuteronomy 6:5; Romans 13:9; Leviticus 19:18
- 28 Ezekiel 20:11; Leviticus 18:5; Matthew 19:17; Nehemiah 9:29; Luke 7:43
- 29 Luke 16:15; Luke 18:9–11; Matthew 5:43–44; Leviticus 19:34; Galatians 3:11
- 30 Luke 18:31; Jeremiah 51:52; Ezekiel 30:24; Psalm 88:4
- 31 1 John 3:16–18; Psalm 69:20; Proverbs 21:13; Jeremiah 5:31; Hosea 6:9
- 32 Acts 18:17; Proverbs 27:10; 2 Timothy 3:2; Psalm 109:25
- 33 1 Kings 8:50; Luke 7:13; Jeremiah 38:7–13; Matthew 18:33; Proverbs 27:10
- 34 Romans 12:20; Psalm 147:3; Genesis 42:27; Luke 2:7; Mark 14:8
- 35 Proverbs 19:17; Luke 14:13; Romans 16:23; Matthew 20:2
- 36 Luke 7:42; Matthew 21:28–31; Matthew 17:25; Matthew 22:42
- 37 1 John 3:16–18; Micah 6:8; 1 Peter 2:21; 2 Corinthians 8:9; 1 John 4:10–11
- 38 John 11:19–20; John 12:1–3; John 11:1–5; Luke 8:2–3; Acts 16:15
- 39 Proverbs 8:34; Luke 8:35; John 12:3; Acts 22:3; Deuteronomy 33:3
- 40 John 6:27; Luke 12:29; Matthew 16:22; Matthew 14:15; Jonah 4:1–4
- 41 Philippians 4:6; Mark 4:19; Luke 21:34; Matthew 6:25–34; Luke 8:14
- 42 Psalm 27:4; Psalm 16:5–6; John 10:27–28; John 4:14; Psalm 73:25
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
By the lesson of the Gospel which has just been read, we are reminded to search what that harvest is of which the Lord says, "The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
And He is called Angel and Apostle; for He declares whatever we ought to know, and is sent forth to declare whatever is revealed; as our Lord Himself says, "He that heareth Me, heareth Him that sent Me." From the writings of Moses also this will be manifest; for thus it is written in them, "And the Angel of God …
For the Lord, through means of suffering, "ascending into the lofty place, led captivity captive, gave gifts to men," and conferred on those that believe in Him the power "to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and on all the power of the enemy," that is, of the leader of apostasy.
This, therefore, is the counsel of Him whom I regard as having spoken the words, "Whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee."
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
Hearken also unto Christ, saying, "Rejoice not that the demons obey you, but that your names are written in Heaven." And again before this, "Many will say to me in that day, Have we not prophesied in Thy name, and cast out devils, and done many mighty works, and then I will profess unto them, I know you not." And …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)