Church Fathers Commentary Luke 6:12-16

"And it came to pass in these days, that he went out into the mountain to pray; and he continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called his disciples; and he chose from them twelve, whom also he named apostles: Simon, whom he also named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip and Bartholomew, and Matthew and Thomas, and James [the son] of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, and Judas [the son] of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor;" — Luke 6:12-16 (ASV)

Glossa Ordinaria: When adversaries rose up against the miracles and teaching of Christ, He chose Apostles as defenders and witnesses of the truth, and prefaced their election with prayer, as it is said, And it came to pass...

St. Ambrose of Milan: Do not be deceived into thinking that the Son of God prays out of weakness to obtain what He could not otherwise accomplish. For as the very Author of power and Master of obedience, He leads us by His own example to the precepts of virtue.

St. Cyril of Alexandria: Let us then examine Jesus's actions to see how He teaches us to be persistent in prayer to God: by going apart by ourselves and in secret where no one can see us, setting aside our worldly cares so that the mind may be raised to the height of divine contemplation. We see this in the fact that Jesus went up on a mountain by Himself to pray.

St. Ambrose of Milan: Everywhere He also prays alone, for human desires cannot comprehend the wisdom of God, and no one can be a partaker in the secrets of Christ. But not everyone who prays ascends a mountain—only the one who, in praying, is advancing from earthly things to higher things and is not anxious for the world's riches or honors. All whose minds are raised above the world ascend the mountain.

In the Gospel, therefore, you will find that the disciples alone ascend the mountain with the Lord. But you, O Christian, now have the pattern given, the form prescribed for you to imitate, as it follows: And he continued all night in prayer to God. For what should you do for your salvation, when Christ continues all night in prayer for you?

St. John Chrysostom: Rise, then, you also at nighttime. The soul is purer then; the very darkness and great silence are enough in themselves to lead us to sorrow for our sins. But if you look upon the heavens, studded with stars like innumerable eyes, and consider that those who live wantonly and unjustly by day are then no different from the dead, you will loathe all human undertakings. All these things serve to elevate the mind.

Vain-glory does not disturb you then, and no tumult of passion has mastery. Fire does not destroy the rust of iron as effectively as nightly prayer destroys the blight of sin. He whom the sun's heat has fevered by day is refreshed by the dew; nightly tears are better than any dew and are a defense against desire and fear. But if a person is not nourished by this dew we speak of, they wither in the day. Therefore, even if you do not pray much at night, pray once with watchfulness, and it is enough. Show that the night belongs not only to the body but also to the soul.

St. Ambrose of Milan: But what should you do when you are about to begin any work of piety, when Christ, before sending out His disciples, first prayed? For it follows, And when it was day, he called his disciples... whom He truly destined to be the means of spreading humanity's salvation throughout the world. Turn your eyes also to this heavenly council. He did not choose the wise, the rich, or the noble, but chose to send out fishermen and tax collectors, so that they might not seem to turn people to their grace by wealth or the influence of power and rank, and so that the force of truth, not the charms of oratory, might prevail.

St. Cyril of Alexandria: But mark the great care of the Evangelist. He not only says that the holy Apostles were chosen, but he lists them by name, so that no one would dare to insert any others into the list: Simon, whom he also named Peter, and Andrew his brother.

The Venerable Bede: He not only gave him the surname Peter first, but long before this, when he was brought by Andrew, it is said, You shall be called Cephas (which is translated, a stone). But Luke, in listing the names of the disciples, since it was necessary to call him Peter, wanted to briefly imply that this was not his original name, but that the Lord had given it to him.

Eusebius of Caesarea: The next two are James and John, as it follows: James and John, who were both sons of Zebedee and also fishermen. After them, he mentions Philip and Bartholomew. John says Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Bartholomew was a simple man, devoid of all worldly knowledge and guile. But Matthew was called from among the tax collectors, about whom he adds, Matthew and Thomas.

The Venerable Bede: Matthew places himself after his fellow disciple Thomas out of humility, whereas the other Evangelists place him before Thomas. It follows, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot.

Glossa Ordinaria: This is because he was from Cana in Galilee, a name which is interpreted as "zeal," and this detail is added to distinguish him from Simon Peter. It follows, Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

St. Augustine of Hippo: Regarding the name of Judas the brother of James, Luke seems to differ from Matthew, who calls him Thaddaeus. But what would prevent a man from being called by two or three names? Judas the traitor is chosen, not unwittingly but knowingly, for Christ had indeed taken upon Himself human weakness and therefore did not refuse even this share of human infirmity. He was willing to be betrayed by His own Apostle so that you, when betrayed by your friend, may calmly bear your mistaken judgment and your wasted kindness.

The Venerable Bede: But in a mystical sense, the mountain on which our Lord chose His disciples represents the loftiness of justice in which they were to be instructed and which they were to preach to others. In the same way, the Law was also given on a mountain.

St. Cyril of Alexandria: But if we are to learn the interpretation of the Apostles’ names, know that Peter means "loosening" or "knowing"; Andrew, "glorious power" or "answering"; James, "apostle of grief"; John, "the grace of the Lord"; Matthew, "given"; Philip, "large mouth" or "the opening of a torch"; Bartholomew, "the son of him who lets down water"; Thomas, "deep" or "twin"; James the son of Alphaeus, "supplanter of the step of life"; Judas, "confession"; and Simon, "obedience."