“And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;”
My Notes
What Does Luke 6:13 Mean?
"And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles." The choosing of the twelve follows a NIGHT of prayer (verse 12 — 'He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God'). The all-night prayer PRECEDED the morning choice. The selection of the twelve was PRAYER-INFORMED. The choosing emerged from the praying. The apostolic foundation was laid on a night of communion with the Father.
The phrase "of them he chose twelve" (eklexamenos ap' autōn dōdeka — having selected from them twelve) means the twelve were chosen FROM a larger group: there were MORE disciples than twelve. The choosing was SELECTIVE — not everyone who followed was chosen to be an apostle. The selection reduced the larger group to a specific twelve. The choosing created an inner circle from the outer circle.
The "whom also he named apostles" (hous kai apostolous ōnomasen — whom He also named apostles/sent-ones) means Jesus gave them a NEW NAME: they were disciples (learners). Now they're apostles (sent ones). The naming is the commissioning. The title carries the job description. 'Apostle' means SENT — dispatched with authority, carrying the sender's message, representing the sender's person. The naming transforms their identity from learners to representatives.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What decision needs all-night prayer before the morning choice?
- 2.What does prayer preceding the most important leadership selection teach about decision-making?
- 3.How does being renamed (from disciple to apostle) transform identity through title?
- 4.What does the selection being FROM a larger group teach about not everyone being called to the same role?
Devotional
He prayed all night. At dawn, He chose twelve from the disciples. And He named them: apostles. The choosing was prayer-preceded, selectively narrowed, and identity-transforming. An all-night prayer produced a morning choice that produced a new name.
The all-night prayer BEFORE the choosing is the foundation: the selection of the twelve — the most important leadership decision in Christian history — was made AFTER a full night in prayer. Jesus didn't choose casually. He didn't interview candidates. He PRAYED. All night. And then He chose. The choosing was the PRODUCT of the praying. The decision emerged from the communion. The twelve were prayer-selected.
The 'of them he chose twelve' is SELECTIVE: there were many disciples. Jesus chose TWELVE. The selection means some were chosen and others WEREN'T. The choosing created a distinction — an inner circle of twelve from the outer circle of many. The selection wasn't about the twelve being BETTER. It was about the twelve being CHOSEN — appointed to a specific role, selected for a specific mission, separated for a specific purpose.
The 'named apostles' transforms IDENTITY through TITLE: they were DISCIPLES (mathētai — learners, students). Now they're APOSTLES (apostoloi — sent ones, commissioned representatives). The name-change carries the identity-change. A disciple LEARNS. An apostle is SENT. The title says: you're no longer just studying. You're representing. You're no longer just following. You're carrying the message. The naming IS the commissioning.
What choice in your life needs all-night prayer BEFORE the morning decision?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Simon, whom he also named Peter,.... Which signifies a rock, or stone, as Cephas also does, see Joh 1:42 from his…
He chose twelve - Εκλεξαμενος απ' αυτων, He chose twelve Out of them. Our Lord at this time had several disciples,…
In these verses, we have our Lord Jesus in secret, in his family, and in public; and in all three acting like…
he chose twelve doubtless with a reference to the twelve tribes of Israel.
whojn also he named apostles The word means…
Cross References
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