“Et ascendens in montem vocavit ad se quos voluit ipse : et venerunt ad eum.”
“And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.”
“Then Jesus went up on the mountain and called for those He wanted, and they came to Him.”
“He went up into the mountain, and called to himself those whom he wanted, and they went to him.”
“And he goeth up into the mountain, and calleth unto him whom he himself would; and they went unto him.”
He spent here the whole night in prayer, not that he who had all things to bestow, stood in need of prayer, or had any thing to ask; but to teach us that we must undertake nothing without previously recommending the affair to heaven, in humble and fervent prayer.
Verses 13-21 Christ calls whom he will; for his grace is his own. He had called the apostles to separate themselves from the crowd, and they came unto him. He now gave them power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils. May the Lord send forth more and more of those who have been with him, and have learned of him to preach his gospel, to be instruments in his blessed work. Those whose hearts are enlarged in the work of God, can easily bear with what is inconvenient to themselves, and will rather lose a meal than an opportunity of doing good. Those who go on with zeal in the work of God, must expect hinderances, both from the hatred of enemies, and mistaken affections of friends, and need to guard against both.