Jesus Selects the Twelve Apostles
January 31, 2023
Commentary
The selection of the twelve Apostles was made after Jesus spent a night in prayer (v. 12). Jesus had a large number of disciples and from those He picked 12 who were to be Apostles (vv. 13-16). A disciple is a learner or an apprentice, while an apostle is a chosen messenger sent with a special commission. This was an interesting group of men. Although artists often portray most of them as elderly they were actually a band of comparatively young men. This suggests to us that youth is the time to yield ourselves to Christ for life service. The earlier a person is saved and surrendered to the Lord, the more he may be permitted to accomplish for God.
These were ordinary men with varied personalities. It seems that seven of them were fisherman (John 21:1-3), one was a tax collector and the other four we cannot be sure what their vocations were. They should be an encouragement to us today, for if God could use them, He can certainly use us. These newly appointed assistants had a big job to do in a needy world. It is estimated that there were 300 million people in the world in Jesus’ day, while there are over 6 billion today. After choosing them Jesus came down from the mountain to a level place where He ordained them (v. 17). For many he had become a symbol of good fortune, or a magician. Instead of desiring God’s pardon or love they only wanted physical healing or a chance to see some spectacular events (vv. 18-19). Some people see prayer as a way for us to control God. He brought a message as to how those who profess to know Him should behave (vv. 20-26). It is a sermon on discipleship and not “the Gospel.” It is probably a shorter version of what we call “The Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5-7).
Application
How do the values Jesus talks about in this message compare to the values we are sold every day on T.V.? This is why it is so important that I pass on my Biblical values to others.
Luke 6:12– 26 (NET)
12 Now it was during this time that Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and he spent all night in prayer to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles: 14 Simon (whom he named Peter), and his brother Andrew; and James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
17 Then he came down with them and stood on a level place. And a large number of his disciples had gathered along with a vast multitude from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon. They came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases, 18 and those who suffered from unclean spirits were cured. 19 The whole crowd was trying to touch him, because power was coming out from him and healing them all.
20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God belongs to you.
21 “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
22 “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject you as evil on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and jump for joy, because your reward is great in heaven. For their ancestors did the same things to the prophets.
24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your comfort already.
25 “Woe to you who are well satisfied with food now, for you will be hungry. “Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.
26 “Woe to you when all people speak well of you, for their ancestors did the same things to the false prophets.