Luke 6:12

12-19. The Selection of the Twelve Apostles.

12. in those days wearied with their incessant espionage and opposition. Probably these two last incidents belong to a later period in the ministry, followingthe Sermon on the Mount (as in St Matthew) and the bright acceptable Galilaean year of our Lord's work. In any case we have here, from Luke 6:12 viii. 56, a splendid cycle of Messianic work in Galilee in the gladdest epoch of Christ's ministry.

into a mountain Rather, "into the mountain," with special reference to the Kurn Hattin, or Horns of Hattin, the traditional and almost certainly the actual scene of the Sermon on the Mount.

in prayer to God The expression used is peculiar. It is literally "in the prayer of God." Hence some have supposed that it should be rendered "in the Prayer-House of God." The word proseuchemeant in Greek not only -prayer," but also - prayer-house," as in the question to a poor person in Juvenal, "In what proseuchaam I to look for you?" ■*- The proseuchaewere merely walled spaces without roof, set apart for purposes of worship where there was no synagogue, as at Philippi (Acts 16:13). There is however here an insuperable difficulty in thus understanding the words; for proseuchaewere generally, if not in-variably, in close vicinity to running water (Jos. Antt.xiv. 10, § 23), for purposes of ritual ablution, nor do we ever hear of their being built ^ on hills. On the other hand, if τὸ ὄρος mean only -the mountainous district," this objection is not fatal. For another instance of a night spent on a mountain in prayer, see Matthew 14:23.