What is the real number of the Disciples sent forth by Jesus Christ- 70 or 72?

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Luke 10:1- [ Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two ] After this the Lord chose another seventy-two men and sent them out two by two, to go ahead of him to every town and place where he himself was about to go.
Luke 10:17- [ The Return of the Seventy-Two ] The seventy-two men came back in great joy. “Lord,” they said, “even the demons obeyed us when we gave them a command in your name!”

- Good News Translation (a Catholic Bible)

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Bible Gateway Reference List for Luke 10:1 (70 or 72 Disciples)
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21st Century King James Version (KJ21) 70
American Standard Version (ASV) 70
Amplified Bible (AMP) 70
Common English Bible (CEB)  72
Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) 70
Contemporary English Version (CEV) 72
Darby Translation (DARBY) 70
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA) 72
Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) 72
English Standard Version (ESV) 72
English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK) 72
Expanded Bible (EXB) 72
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV) 70
GOD’S WORD Translation (GW) 70
Good News Translation (GNT) 72
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) 70
J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS) 70
 Jubilee Bible 2000 (JUB) 70
King James Version (KJV) 70
Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV) 70
Lexham English Bible (LEB) 72
Living Bible (TLB) 70
The Message (MSG) 70
Mounce Reverse-Interlinear New Testament (MOUNCE) 72
Names of God Bible (NOG) 70
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 72
New Century Version (NCV) 72
New English Translation (NET) 72
New International Reader's Version (NIRV) 72
New International Version (NIV) 72
New International Version - UK (NIVUK) 72
New King James Version (NKJV) 70
New Life Version (NLV) 70
New Living Translation (NLT) 72
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 70
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA) 70
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition (NRSVACE) 70
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) 70
Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB) 70
Revised Standard Version (RSV) 70
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE) 70
The Voice (VOICE) 70
World English Bible (WEB) 70
Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE) 70
Wycliffe Bible (WYC) 72
Young's Literal Translation (YLT) 70


Summary
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* 28 Gateway Bibles use 70 Disciples in Luke 10:1 including all King James Versions (KJV), all New Revised Standard Versions (NRS), and all Jewish Bibles
* 18 Gateway Bibles use 72 Disciples in Luke 10:1 including all New International Versions (NIV), the New American Standard (NASB) and all Catholic Bibles published by Catholics

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In general, it appears that the following forms of Christianity differ in their belief that either 70 or 72 Disciples were given a commission by Jesus Christ:

Roman Catholic = 72
Eastern Orthodox = 70
Protestant = 70 and/or 72

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70 or 72 disciples sent out by Jesus

Were there 70 or 72 disciples sent out by Jesus ?

We find the information about the sending out of messengers in Luke's gospel under Luke 10:1.

The Wycliffe Bible states - Forsooth after these things, the Lord Jesus ordained also other seventy and two, and sent them by two and two before his face into every city and place
The New International Version states - 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.
New King James version - After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.
We are told that they are sent out in pairs but are there 35 pairs or 36 ?

Who are the seventy and who are the two ? 

Luke 10:1

NASB - ¹ Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come.

Clarify • Share • Report • Asked September 16 2013 • Jason Corning