6:13 He called [unto him] his disciples. After the night of prayer. Out of these twelve were chosen. For notes on the call of the Apostles see Mt 10:1-5. These are four lists of the twelve: that here: Mt 10:2-4 Mr 3:16-19 Ac 1:13. They differ slightly because some of the apostles had two different names: for example, Matthew is also called Levi, and Simon is called Peter.
6:13 Mt 10:2; Mr 3:14; Ac 1:13.
6:12-19 We often think one half hour a great deal to spend in meditation and secret prayer, but Christ was whole nights engaged in these duties. In serving God, our great care should be not to lose time, but to make the end of one good duty the beginning of another. The twelve apostles are here named; never were men so privileged, yet one of them had a devil, and proved a traitor. Those who have not faithful preaching near them, had better travel far than be without it. It is indeed worth while to go a great way to hear the word of Christ, and to go out of the way of other business for it. They came to be cured by him, and he healed them. There is a fulness of grace in Christ, and healing virtue in him, ready to go out from him, that is enough for all, enough for each. Men regard the diseases of the body as greater evils than those of their souls; but the Scripture teaches us differently.
