Luke 6:13 Meaning: Why Jesus Chose Twelve
When it was day, he called his disciples, and from them he chose twelve, whom he also named apostles:
And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
And when it was day, he called his disciples; and he chose from them twelve, whom also he named apostles:
and when it became day, he called near his disciples, and having chosen from them twelve, whom also he named apostles,
And when it was day he called his disciples, and having chosen out twelve from them, whom also he named apostles:
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus spent all night in prayer before choosing the twelve disciples and naming them apostles. Discover what this meant for their calling.
Context
By this point in Luke's Gospel, Jesus had already gathered a large following. He had healed the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath, and the religious leaders were furious, plotting against him. The crowds pressed in from everywhere. In the midst of this pressure, Jesus withdrew to a mountain and spent the entire night in prayer. At daybreak, he called his disciples, a much larger group, and from among them he selected twelve. He gave them a new name: apostles, meaning sent ones. This moment was not a spontaneous choice. It came straight from his quiet hours with the Father.
Key Words
Three Greek words matter here. First, prosephōnēsen means 'he called to himself.' It is a personal summons, Jesus did not send a message or make a public announcement. He called specific people near, face to face. Second, eklexamenos means 'having chosen out for himself.' The word suggests picking with care, like selecting the best fruit from a basket. Jesus did not take volunteers. He examined and chose. Third, apostolous means 'sent ones', a word that would come to define their whole lives. Back then, Jewish communities sometimes sent shaliachim (emissaries) with full authority to represent the sender. By giving his disciples this title, Jesus was telling them: you are my delegates. You go with my authority, not your own. That is what made an apostle: being chosen by Christ, being with him, then being sent by him.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have seen this moment as foundational for the Church. In Catholic teaching, the twelve apostles received a unique office passed down through bishops. Orthodox Christians similarly honor apostolic succession as the living link to Christ. Protestant churches often focus on the apostles' role as eyewitnesses of the risen Lord and the foundation of Scripture. Some traditions emphasize that the apostles were ordinary, flawed men, Peter denied Christ, Judas betrayed him, showing that God's choice does not depend on human worthiness. What unites these views is the conviction that Jesus himself established this group, and his night of prayer tells us that the calling was no afterthought.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume the twelve were already called 'apostles' from the moment they started following Jesus. In fact, Luke makes a clear distinction: they were first disciples (learners), and only now, after a night of prayer, did Jesus name them apostles (sent ones). The title came with a new mission.
Living This Out
Before Jesus made the biggest decision of his public ministry, choosing the twelve, he prayed all night. That tells you something about how he viewed the people he called. They were not tools for a project. They were precious, and choosing them mattered enough to spend hours with the Father. This week, maybe you are facing a decision about people: who to trust, who to invite into a ministry, who to invest time in. Take it to prayer the way Jesus did. Not a quick 'bless this plan' but real conversation with God. The people in your life are not assignments to manage. They are gifts to choose well.
Main takeaway: Jesus prayed all night before calling the twelve, showing that choosing people for his work is always a holy decision, not a hurried one.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jesus had many friends who followed him. One morning, after talking to God all night, he picked twelve special friends and gave them a new name: apostles. That means 'sent ones.' They got to be with Jesus, and then he sent them to tell everyone about him.
For ages 9, 12
Imagine you have a big group of friends, and you have to pick just twelve to help you with something really important. That is what Jesus did. But first he spent the whole night praying. He did not rush. He wanted to know which people God wanted. The twelve were not perfect, one would even betray him. But Jesus called them anyway, and he gave them a job: to be his messengers. You do not have to be perfect to be chosen by Jesus. You just have to be willing to go when he sends you.
Questions People Ask
Why did Jesus choose exactly twelve apostles?
The number twelve connects to the twelve tribes of Israel. By choosing twelve, Jesus was signaling that he was forming a new people of God, not replacing Israel but gathering it around himself. The apostles would eventually sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes (Matthew 19:28).
What does the word 'apostle' mean?
Apostle comes from the Greek word 'apostolos,' which means 'one who is sent.' In Jewish culture, a shaliach (emissary) carried full authority from the person who sent them. When Jesus called the twelve apostles, he was giving them his own authority to preach, heal, and represent him.
Did Jesus make a mistake choosing Judas?
Christians have wrestled with this question. Jesus knew Scripture said one would betray him, and he called Judas anyway. Some traditions see this as a mystery of God's sovereignty and human freedom. Others point out that even Judas's betrayal served God's plan for salvation. What is clear is that Jesus' decision was made after prayer, not in ignorance.
Are there apostles today?
Christians differ on this. Catholic and Orthodox churches teach that bishops are successors of the apostles through an unbroken line of ordination. Many Protestant churches see the original twelve as unique eyewitnesses of Jesus' resurrection, with no modern successors. Some Pentecostal and charismatic traditions use the term 'apostle' for leaders who plant churches or oversee networks.
Why did Luke include the detail about Jesus praying all night?
Luke emphasizes prayer more than the other Gospels. His point is clear: the most important decision of Jesus' ministry came not from strategy but from communion with the Father. It shows that even the Son of God needed to pray before choosing leaders. For readers, it is a powerful example of how to make weighty decisions.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study