Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means {g} hurt you.

(g) Will do you wrong.

People's New Testament

10:19 To tread on serpents and scorpions. Evidently an allusion to the promise that the seed of woman shall bruise the serpent's head (Ge 3:15). It is a promise of victory over the power of sin, of victory over all the power of the enemy. The connection shows that it is symbolical.

Wesley's Notes

10:19 I give you power - That is, I continue it to you: and nothing shall hurt you - Neither the power, nor the subtilty of Satan.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

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 (Mr 16:17, 18; Ac 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 one," by the communication and maintenance of which to His people He makes them innocuous, is what is meant (1Jo 5:4; Eph 6:16).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

10:17-24 All our victories over Satan, are obtained by power derived from Jesus Christ, and he must have all the praise. But let us beware of spiritual pride, which has been the destruction of many. Our Lord rejoiced at the prospect of the salvation of many souls. It was fit that particular notice should be taken of that hour of joy; there were few such, for He was a man of sorrows: in that hour in which he saw Satan fall, and heard of the good success of his ministers, in that hour he rejoiced. He has ever resisted the proud, and given grace to the humble. The more simply dependent we are on the teaching, help, and blessing of the Son of God, the more we shall know both of the Father and of the Son; the more blessed we shall be in seeing the glory, and hearing the words of the Divine Saviour; and the more useful we shall be made in promoting his cause.