And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles:
Parallel translations
- WEB When it was day, he called his disciples, and from them he chose twelve, whom he also named apostles:
- KJV And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
- BSB When daylight came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated as apostles:
- NKJV And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:
- NLT At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Here are their names:
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
At daybreak Jesus chooses twelve apostles from among his disciples. He establishes the foundational leaders of his church.
Overview
From the wider body of disciples, Jesus selects twelve and names them apostles, meaning 'sent ones.' The number twelve evokes the tribes of Israel, signaling the formation of a renewed people of God. These men will be witnesses of his resurrection and the foundation of the church's mission.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Mark 3:13–19He went up into the mountain, and called to himself those whom he wanted, and they went to him.
- Rev 21:14The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.
- Matt 9:36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd.
- Mark 6:7He called to himself the twelve, and began to send them out two by two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
- Mark 6:30The apostles gathered themselves together to Jesus, and they told him all things, whatever they had done, and whatever they had taught.
- Luke 9:1–2He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.
- Eph 2:20being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;
- Eph 4:11He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;
- Rev 18:20“Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints, apostles, and prophets; for God has judged your judgment on her.”
- 2 Pet 3:2that you should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior:
- Luke 11:49Therefore also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and apostles; and some of them they will kill and persecute,
- Rev 12:1A great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
- Acts 1:13When they had come in, they went up into the upper room, where they were staying; that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.
- Matt 19:28Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell you that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of his glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
- Luke 22:30that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. You will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
- Heb 3:1Therefore, holy brothers, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Jesus;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 6:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.