Luke 6:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Now, exalted in heavenly realms, they continue to enlighten us through the profound accounts they have recorded about Him. If the priests of the Mosaic law, such as Aaron and his kin, were adorned in splendid vestments befitting their priestly roles, the divine disciples were enriched with spiritual gifts, entrusted with the proclamation of the Gospel. They received the command, “Heal the sick, cast out demons, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead.” Empowered by Christ, they astonished the entire world. Note the evangelist's carefulness: he does not merely mention the holy apostles but introduces each by name, ensuring that no one dares to claim equality with the chosen. As St. Paul states, “No one takes this honor upon himself except those who are called by God.” Even though the holy apostles were called to this magnificent role, there have been individuals who, in their arrogance, have proclaimed themselves apostles of Christ and attempted to seize a title not theirs. Such individuals are identified by the divine disciples, who declare, “They are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.” It is no wonder, for even Satan transforms himself into an angel of light. Thus, it is unsurprising that his ministers also present themselves as messengers of righteousness. We will recognize only those acknowledged in the Gospel narrative, along with the one who followed them, the wise Paul, concerning whom the Savior testified, “He is a chosen vessel for Me, to bear My name before all the Gentiles.” The law had indeed signified them symbolically, and the prophets proclaimed their coming. For instance, the Mosaic scripture stipulates, “And take fine flour, and make twelve loaves of it, and lay them in two rows on a clean table before the Lord. And put frankincense and salt on the row, and they shall be for the loaves set before the Lord in remembrance.” The bread that came down from heaven and imparts life to the world is none other than Christ, the Savior of the universe. In a similar manner, the blessed disciples are referred to as bread; having partaken of Him, who nourishes us for eternal life, they also sustain those who hunger and thirst for righteousness through their efforts. Just as the Savior, who is the true light, called His disciples light—“For ye are the light of the world”—so, being Himself the bread of life, He allowed His disciples to be considered loaves. Moreover, notice the exquisite instruction of the law: “For ye shall put, it is said, frankincense and salt upon the loaves.” Frankincense represents a sweet aroma, and salt signifies wisdom and discernment, both of which were abundantly present in the holy apostles. Their lives radiated as a pleasing fragrance, as they stated, “We are the sweet savour of Christ to God.” Additionally, they were filled with understanding, evidenced by the prophet David’s words in the Psalms: “There is Benjamin in the assembly; the princes of Judah are their leaders; the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.” The blessed disciples were chosen from nearly all the tribes of Israel and became beacons of light in the world, “holding forth the word of life.” Remarkably, the wise men of Greece possessed a grand eloquence and notable linguistic beauty, while our Savior’s disciples were simple laborers, fishermen, and craftsmen, lacking verbal pretentiousness and rhetorical skill. Still, despite their humble backgrounds, the eloquence of Greek literature fades when confronted with the powerful proclamation of the Gospel that has captivated the world. God speaks of them through Jeremiah, referencing the adversary, Satan: “Woe to him that multiplies to himself that which is not his own, and makes his collar thick and heavy; for suddenly there shall arise those that bite him, and thy adversaries shall awake, and thou shalt be their prey.” Satan has gathered to himself those who do not belong to him, burdening them; yet those who should have reclaimed what is rightfully the Lord’s have awakened, as the net of the apostolic teachings has ensnared the lost and restored creation to God. “Be ye like unto me, even as I am unto Christ.” And how did the wise Paul emulate Christ? Did he create the heavens as the Word of God? Did he lay the earth’s foundations or summon the sun, moon, and stars? In what ways was he similar to Him? By becoming an imitator of the human virtues that Christ exemplified for us.

To momentarily escape the hostility of the Pharisees, the Lord sought to form a deeper bond with a select group of His disciples. Thus, one evening, He purposefully withdrew to a solitary mountain for prayer. One may ponder the content of His prayer during this time. It seems likely that the Divine Intercessor, in laying the groundwork for the establishment of the New Testament Church, sought His Father’s blessing upon His ministry, requesting fortitude against the forces of darkness (and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it; I have observed Satan fallen from heaven; this Satan desires to sift you as wheat, and I pray for you, Simon). The Son of Man might have implored His heavenly Father for strength to face the final trial ahead: for with the dawn, according to the Father’s will and good pleasure, He would bring Judas Iscariot close to Himself—a reminder of the impending instrument of His demise.

In the morning, summoning His disciples on the mountain, He selected twelve of them to remain constantly by His side, granting them the ability to bear witness to what they had personally observed, heard, and touched (Mk. 3:14). These individuals served as the foundational leaders for the twelve tribes of the renewed Israel (Rev. 21:14).

These twelve disciples were called to become Christ's closest associates during His time on Earth and to carry on His mission following His ascension. From this moment onwards, He drew them near to Himself, establishing a community, a family, with Him as their leader. The apostles' names are consistent with those given by the evangelists, with only slight variations in their order. Mark notes that Jesus designated James and John with the name Boanerges, meaning sons of Thunder. It is possible that this designation occurred not at this time but during an event that showcased the fiery nature of these apostles, perhaps related to the incident in Luke 9:54. Similarly, Mark mentions that Jesus named Simon as Peter, which actually took place at a different time (John 1:42). Some of the apostles listed by the Evangelists are already familiar to us from the account of their initial encounters with Christ (John 1:37 ff.) and their calling to follow Him (Matthew 4:18 ff., 9:9 ff., and parallel texts), including Peter and Andrew, James and John, Philip and Nathanael, as well as Matthew, the tax collector. The details of how the other apostles were called remain unknown.

The specific mountain remains unknown; it may have been one that offered a stunning view of the Sea of Galilee, often referred to as the clear 'eye of the Holy Land,' where the night sky showcases the brilliant southern stars. In quiet communion with His Father, He prepared for the significant event of the following day. As dawn broke, Jesus summoned His most devoted followers and selected twelve disciples, who from that moment were to transition from being mere followers to becoming His apostles—messengers charged not only with receiving but also sharing the new teachings. The choice of twelve was symbolic, mirroring the twelve patriarchs of the Old Testament, representing the new covenant's chosen people. All of these chosen ones were authentic Israelites, not Gentiles or converts, intended to extend the blessing of the new covenant through the lineage of Abraham, not from the tribe of Levi or the priestly order of Aaron, as Christ was establishing an entirely new priesthood.

In making His selections, the Savior took into account the spiritual attributes of those chosen. Rather than selecting the affluent, the learned, or the influential, He chose simple men whose inherent dignity lay in their pure souls, untouched by deception, and genuine hearts that served as fertile ground for the new gospel to take root. Jesus recognized that true spiritual renewal among humanity would arise from the humble (Matthew 11:25). He understood that the educated elite—rabbis and priests—were blinded by their human wisdom and had distorted their understanding of divine truths, making them incapable of empathizing with or embracing the profound spiritual teachings of the new revelation. Conversely, uneducated individuals, not burdened by the hollow legalism of rabbinical discourse, were well-suited to grasp the essential truths of the Kingdom of God with their clear and straightforward sense. However, a broader selection might have included some informed representatives of society who could have contributed to the apostleship in the coming kingdom. While Christ valued a good heart, He did not overlook the importance of an enlightened mind. History attests to the crucial role played by knowledgeable and learned individuals in the spread of Christianity, exemplified by Paul of Tarsus, who was called to apostleship by Christ Himself from His celestial throne.

In appointing the apostles, Jesus disregarded their previous social standing or political affiliations. Among them was Matthew, a tax collector who had compromised his Levitical honor by serving the oppressors, as well as a member of the Zealots, fervent opponents of Roman domination, who believed it was their sacred duty to resist until the foreign yoke was lifted. Moreover, He did not impose celibacy as a requirement for His disciples, unlike the Roman Church's established practice insisting on celibacy for its clergy. The Gospel confirms that Peter, the foremost among the apostles, was a family man, with both a wife and a mother-in-law, while ancient tradition suggests that many of the other apostles were also married, with the exceptions of the sons of Zebedee and Thomas. Most of the apostles hailed from towns and villages around the Sea of Galilee, with at least seven—Peter and his brother Andrew, the two sons of Zebedee (James and John), the sons of Alphaeus (James the Less and Judas, also known as Thaddaeus), Matthew the tax collector, and Philip—coming from Capernaum or nearby areas. Nathanael, identified as Bartholomew, hailed from Cana near Nazareth, visible from the higher grounds of the latter, while the origins of three others, likely from neighboring villages, are not distinctly defined in the Gospel accounts (John 1:44, John 21:2).

Regarding their economic status, at least Matthew, benefiting from a lucrative tax-collecting post, and the sons of Zebedee, prosperous fishermen involved in commerce even to Jerusalem, enjoyed some financial stability. The rest were simple fishermen reliant on their catch from the waters of their home lake. Following the death and resurrection of their Master, Peter returned to his fishing career, and one notable image portrays him casting his net, a vivid representation of these fishermen destined to draw souls into the Kingdom of God. The apostolic list is provided by all the evangelists, with the exception of John, who presents it in the book of Acts, stating:

Simon Peter Peter Andrew James Andrew James John John John Andrew Philip Bartholomew Thomas Matthew

James, son of Alphaeus Thaddeus Simon the Zealot Judas, brother of James

This newly chosen group consisted of twelve close disciples, given the extraordinary honor of being the constant companions and friends of the God-man during His earthly ministry. They were privileged to witness the depths of His spirit, more than any other human, inspiring them with fervor for their mission and preparing them to inherit His ministry. Through their continuous experience of His divine life, they gained intimate knowledge of what it means to live out perfect divinity. The trials they faced alongside Him tested and ultimately strengthened their devotion, refining their character for the significant role they were to play—proclaiming salvation and performing miracles as evidence of their divine authority.

This moment was pivotal in the Lord's ministry as He prepared to designate the twelve Apostles to equip them for the mission of proclaiming His kingdom to all nations. Thus, He devoted the night preceding this significant decision to solitary prayer on the mountain. The term ‘named apostles’ is highlighted in reference to Matthew 10:2. For further details on the names, refer to Matthew 10:2-4 and Mark 3:16-19.