In those days he departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. 13 When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named apostles: 14 Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, 16 and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
17 And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground. A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon 18 came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured. 19 Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all.
Jesus goes to the mountain to pray and remains there through the night (v. 12). Prayer is not a formality for Him; it is His way of working. He prays first, listens to the Father, and then acts. This rhythm appears again and again in Luke. It is present before major moments such as Peter’s confession (Lk. 9:18), the Transfiguration (Lk. 9:28-29), and Gethsemane (Lk. 22:39-46). From this communion, He chooses the Twelve and begins to heal the crowds. This should also be the Christian pattern: begin in prayer, receive your task from God, serve in His name, and return to prayer so the work stays rooted in Him.
“When day came,” Jesus calls His disciples and from them He chooses Twelve, “whom he also named apostles” (v. 13). A disciple is one who seeks to learn and follows the teacher to live what he teaches. An apostle is one who is sent to share what he has received from Jesus. Jesus chooses twelve on purpose. The number recalls the twelve tribes of Israel. Many early Christian teachers saw this as a sign that God is renewing His people in Christ (for example, St. Bede, d. 735). Luke then lists their names (vv. 14-16). Peter is named first because he will lead. Simon is called “a Zealot,” a title that points to strong zeal for God and Israel (it identifies him by conviction, not by action here). Luke also names “Judas the son of James” and “Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor,” which shows the Gospel’s honesty about sin and failure.
Jesus then “came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground” (v. 17). A “level place” is a wide open area where many can gather. A great crowd of His disciples is there, together with a large number of people from “all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon.” Judea and Jerusalem are the center of Jewish life. Tyre and Sidon are coastal cities to the north (in today’s Lebanon). Luke is showing that people from many places are coming. God’s mercy is already reaching beyond one region and one group.
The people come “to hear him and to be healed of their diseases,” and “even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured” (v. 18). “Unclean spirits” are evil spiritual powers that harm and oppress people. Jesus’ word brings truth. His touch brings healing. His authority frees people from demonic power. In Jesus, God’s care reaches the whole person—mind, body, and spirit.
“Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all” (v. 19). The power is not a technique or a method. It is God’s saving power present in the person of Jesus, who is God made man, fully divine and fully human. People try to touch Him because God’s power flows from Him. He alone restores, strengthens, and makes whole.
This passage shows a clear path for us. Jesus prays, calls, and then stands with people in their need. He teaches, heals, and frees. We are not the source of power; Jesus is. Our task is to stay close to Him, to receive our mission from Him, and to serve people in His name, through faithful prayer, the witness of God’s Word, and acts of mercy. This should also be the Christian pattern: begin in prayer, receive your task from God, serve in His name, and return to prayer so the work stays rooted in Him.
Lord Jesus, You called the Twelve after a night of prayer and You stood with the crowds in their need. Draw me into daily prayer. Speak Your word to my heart. Send me to serve with compassion. Let Your power heal what is wounded in me, and make my life a simple sign that You are near. Amen.
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Sources and References
- The Holy Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition (2011).
- The Paulist Biblical Commentary, ed. Aguilar Chiu et al. (2018), “Luke.”
- The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition (2008), “Luke.”
- A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture, ed. Bernard Orchard et al. (1953), “Luke.”
- The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, ed. R. E. Brown et al. (1990), “Luke.”
- St. Bede the Venerable (d. 735), Homilies on the Gospels (on the Twelve as the renewed Israel), cited for historical insight.
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