(After some time passes, the seventy disciples return to where Jesus was.) ## seventy ## You may want to add a footnote: "Some versions have '72' instead of '70.'" ## The seventy returned ## Some languages will need to say that the seventy actually went out first as the UDB does. This is implicit information that can be made explicit. (See [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]].) ## I was watching Satan fall from heaven as lightening ## Jesus used a simile to describe how God was defeating Satan when his 70 disciples were preaching in the towns. ## authority to tread on serpents and scorpions ## "authority to step on snakes and crush scorpions." Possible meanings are 1) this refers to actual snakes and scorpions or 2) snakes and scorpions are a metaphor for evil spirits. The UDB translates this as referring to evil spirits: "I have given you the right to attack evil spirits." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) ## tread on serpents and scorpions ## This implies that they would do this and not be injured. You can make this explicit: "walk on snakes and scorpions and not be hurt." ## over all the power of the enemy ## "I have given you authority to crush the power of the enemy" or "I have given you authority to defeat the enemy." The enemy is Satan. ## rejoice in this ## The words "in this" refer to the following phrase "that the spirits submit to you." ## your names are engraved in heaven ## This can be translated as an active verb "God has written your names in heaven" or "your names are on the list of people who are citizens of heaven."