One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and He prayed to God all night. At daybreak He called together all of His disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Here are their names: Simon (whom He named Peter), Andrew (Peter’s brother), James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (who was called the zealot), Judas (son of James), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed Him).
Luke 6:12-16
This is an interesting passage in Luke. Jesus is facing a major step: the choosing of the 12. Luke makes it clear to us that Jesus too was challenged by this moment. Only Luke records for us that before He made His choice of the Twelve, He spent the whole night in prayer. “Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and He prayed to God all night.” This was serious business. So serious that Jesus had to get His Father’s input on His choices. There are many questions to be asked about this event. I will leave you to come up with you own. But of course one must wonder what did He pray about? Before I handle the detail of the list and matters related to the disciples I will address some wider issues. Time for you to consider what to ask about the disciples, who was chosen and anything else that comes to mind.
Notice this incident happened “one day soon after” and Jesus goes up on the mountain. Soon after what? Well soon after the events Luke dealt with before this. Namely the healing of the man with the withered hand. Well that is the pericope before this but I suspect Luke might be meaning with this comment, soon after all the hassles with Pharisees. The growing opposition is what seems to prompt Jesus that it is time to assemble His band and appoint them as His disciples. Notice too that only Mark and Luke have this pericope in this order and structured this way. Matthew (Matt 10) has a list of disciples but he introduces them in a very different way from Luke and Mark. But that is a study for Matthew’s gospel not Luke’s. You will have to do that one on your own.
Pay attention to the details in Luke’s account to see what aspects you ought to focus on. Compare them with Matthew and Mark’s account for a wider perspective.
There are some things to carry on with. I will see you back here same time, same place next Gem: up on the mountain with the Twelve.
Never confuse the will of the majority with the will of God.
Anon
Reputation is what people think about you. Character is what you are when no-one is looking.
Anon
You can’t change the world if you are afraid of it.
Anon
Leadership is the art of building people and making them successful.
Leroy McGinnis