Luke 6:12

“And it came to pass in those days, etc.] When Christ was teaching by the lake of Gennesaret, or in one or other of the cities of Galilee near that place: that he went out; of the synagogue and city where he had been: into a mountain to pray; for the sake of solitude, and which lay near the sea of Tiberias; (See Gill on “<401423>Matthew 14:23”). and continued all night in prayer to God; or “with” God, as the Ethiopic version renders it; or “in the prayer of God” as the phrase may be literally rendered; not in a prayer of God's making; though the Jews f252 sometimes speak of the prayer of God, and give us a form of it: but either this respects the object of his prayer; it was made to God, as…”

“THE TWELVE APOSTLES CHOSEN--GATHERING MULTITUDES--GLORIOUS HEALING. (Luke 6:12-49) went out--probably from Capernaum. all night in prayer . . . and when . . . day, he called, &c.--The work with which the next day began shows what had been the burden of this night's devotions. As He directed His disciples to pray for "laborers" just before sending themselves forth (see on Mat 9:37; Mat 10:1), 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!”

“And it came to pass in those days - The designation of the time here is very general. It means “about” the time when the events occurred which had been just narrated. He went out into a mountain - Jesus was accustomed to resort to such places to hold communion with God, Mark 6:46. He did it because it was retired, free from interruption, and fitted by impressiveness and grandeur to raise the thoughts to the God that had formed the high hills and the deep-shaded groves. And continued all night in prayer to God - There has been a difference of opinion about this passage, whether it means that he spent the night in the act of “praying” to God, or in a “place” of prayer. The Jews had places of…”

“In the prayer of God - The phrase is singular and emphatical, to imply an extraordinary and sublime devotion. Mar 3:13. Luke 6:13”

“6:12 he prayed to God all night: See study note on 3:21. Jesus prayed before important events and decisions such as choosing the Twelve, who would carry on his ministry after him.”

“that: Psa 55:15-17, Psa 109:3, Psa 109:4; Dan 6:10; Mat 6:6; Mar 1:35, Mar 14:34-36; Heb 5:7 continued: Gen 32:24-26; Psa 22:2; Mat 14:23-25; Mar 6:46; Col 4:2 Luke 6:13”