Matthew Henry Commentary Luke 6:12-19

"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; and he came down with them, and stood on a level place, and a great multitude of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judaea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; and they that were troubled with unclean spirits were healed. And all the multitude sought to touch him; for power came forth from him, and healed [them] all." — Luke 6:12-19 (ASV)

We often think half an hour is a great deal of time to spend in meditation and private prayer, but Christ spent entire nights engaged in these duties. In serving God, our primary concern should be not to waste time, but to make the end of one good duty the beginning of another. The twelve apostles are named here; never were men so privileged, yet one of them had a devil and proved a traitor.

Those who do not have faithful preaching near them should travel far rather than be without it. It is indeed worthwhile to go a long way to hear the word of Christ, and to set aside other business for it. They came to be cured by him, and he healed them.

There is a fullness of grace in Christ, and healing power in him, ready to go out from him, that is enough for all, enough for each. People regard the diseases of the body as greater evils than those of their souls; but the Scripture teaches us differently.