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 unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles, х apostolous (G652)] - 'sent,' or 'commissioned;' as if to put upon the very name by which they were in all future time to be known the seal of their Master's appointment. The work with which the day began shows what had been the burden of this whole night's devotions. As He directed His disciples to pray for "labourers" just before sending themselves forth (see the notes at Matthew 9:35-38; Matthew 10:1-5, Remarks 1 and 2), so here we find the Lord Himself in prolonged communion with His Father in preparation for the solemn appointment of those men who were to give birth to His Church, and from whom the world in all time was to take a new mould. How instructive is this! They appear all to have been first selected from among those who had been disciples of John the Baptist (see Acts 1:21-22), as probably the most advanced or the most teachable; with a view also, no doubt, to diversity of gifts. And after watching the steadiness with which they had followed Him, the progress they had made in the knowledge of the truth, and their preparedness to enter the higher school to which they were now to be advanced, He, solemnly "ordained." х epoieesen (G4160)], or 'constituted' these Twelve men, "that they should be with Him" (Mark 3:14) as a Family, and enjoy His most private fellowship, as none of His other followers were permitted to do. By this they would not only hear much more from Him, and have it impressed upon them as it could not else have been, but catch His spirit, and take on a stamp which, when He was removed from them, and they had to prosecute His work, would bring their Master Himself to the recollection of His enemies. (See the note at Acts 4:13.)