JESUS CALLS TWELVE APOSTLES

Passage: Luke 6:12-16

Key verse: 13

NIV

The Twelve Apostles(A)

12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.(B) 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:(C) 14 Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew,(D) Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Read full chapter
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Twelve Apostles

12 In these days (A)he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, (B)he called his disciples (C)and (D)chose from them twelve, whom he named (E)apostles: 14 Simon, (F)whom he named Peter, and (G)Andrew his brother, and (H)James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15 and (I)Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called (J)the Zealot, 16 and (K)Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Read full chapter
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. A night of prayer (12)

Jesus had jeopardized his whole ministry and even his own life by defying the religious leaders and healing a man's shriveled hand. He was distressed to find out how evil and heartless the leaders were. What could he do? He went to the mountainside and spent the whole night praying to God.

2. Jesus chooses twelve (13-16)

The redemptive work of God did not stop when the Jewish leaders refused to be shepherds of God's people. It did not stop when God's chosen people rejected their Messiah and their mission. God raised up a new people of God. Jesus chose 12 men to be with him. He would love them and disciple them until they could be apostles and missionaries. Then he would send them out to make disciples of all nations. Let's memorize their names and think about each one. Jesus still seeks faithful men who will obey him.

Prayer: Lord, teach me to pray and find your way when things look their worst. Help me to be a disciple-maker.

One Word: Don't give up; pray; make disciples for Jesus