What gain in credibility, then, is effected by substituting the "selection" theory for one in which the third evangelist is implicitly represented as a framer of fiction? For Dr. Petrie, the story of the seventy is a logion ignored by the first two Gospel-makers, presumably as serving no purpose, albeit one of the most important items in the history. What kind of narrators, then, were the men who passed it over? The alternatives are equally destructive to credence: on either view we are dealing with men who would invent anything or suppress anything. And yet the subject of the missions lies at the core of the historical problem. To the eye of rational criticism it is an evolving legend. If we take Mark as the first selector or collector, we have the twelve sent forth "by two and two" without money or supplies; with authority over unclean spirits; and with no specified message whatever, though the twelve are to make a solemn and minatory testimony against those who refuse to hear them. "And they went out, and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them." They make no report.
In Matthew, similarly, the twelve are empowered to cast out spirits and heal diseases, and are "sent forth" with a peremptory veto on any visit to Samaritans or Gentiles, to "preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils: freely ye received, freely give." As in Mark, they are to go unfurnished; and are to withhold their peace from the unworthy, testifying as aforesaid. Then ensues a long discourse, with no explanation of the kingdom of heaven, though the missioners are to "proclaim upon the housetops" what they "hear in the ear." Then, "when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and preach in their cities." Of the mission there is not another word: the disciples are not even mentioned as returning.
Upon this kind of basis Luke erects a new structure. The twelve are sent forth to exorcise, heal, and preach, unfurnished; and as before they are to give testimony against those who will not receive them. "And they departed, and went throughout the villages, preaching the Gospel, and healing everywhere." "And the apostles, when they were returned, declared unto him what things they had done." The story is not suppressed, and it is supplied with a conclusion; but it is on the mission of the seventy that stress is visibly laid: they "return with joy," and are told to rejoice that their names are written in heaven. "In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit"; and after the discourse on the Father and the Son [116] the disciples are "privately" told that many prophets and kings had desired in vain to see and hear what they had seen and heard.