Luke vi. 12, 13. And it came to pass in those days that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his Disciples : and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named Apostles.
THE short period of our Lord's ministry on earth rendered it expedient for him to employ others as his co-adjutors in the work. Accordingly, in refer- ence to the twelve Patriarchs/who might be considered as the fathers of the Jewish Church, he selected twelve
of his Disciples, who should be his instruments for planting and establishing his Church. There were other seventy, whom at a later period he sent forth, two and two, for the purpose of preparing the minds of the people for his personal ministry among thema ; but the Apostles were to be his stated servants after that he should have left this world and returned to his heavenly Father. The circumstances of their appointment were peculiar, and deserve our most attentive consideration. The night previous to their appointment he spent in prayer to his heavenly Fa- therb : which remarkable occurrence it will be proper to notice in a threefold view :
I. As an act for our benefit —
The appointment of the Apostles was a work of singular importance —
[They were to be employed in the Church as his messengers to declare his truth — his witnesses to attest it — as patterns also to illustrate — and as martyrs to confirm it. But whence could a number of poor fishermen attain " a sufficiency for these things ? " ]
Hence our blessed Lord continued the whole night in prayer for them —
[His heavenly Father was able to furnish them for this great work, and to give them success in it ; and therefore our Lord importunately sought for them the grace which they stood in need of : nor would he cease from his exertions, till he had obtained all that their necessities required. The benefit of his prayer was fully manifested as soon as they were endued with power from on high : then nothing could withstand their wis- dom, or subdue their courage : they were deaf to menaces, and regardless of death. Their success was rapid, extensive, per- manent : and we at this day enjoy the fruits of their labours. Through that prayer the Apostles were richly furnished unto every good work ; and were enabled so to establish the kingdom of our Lord, that neither earth nor hell have ever been able to prevail against it.]
II. As a lesson for our instruction —
The ordination of ministers is also a most impor- tant work —
a Luke x. 1.
b If we suppose 7rpoo-£^x»? to mean " in a place of prayer," we still can have no doubt what his occupation there was.