Luke 6 12

Luke 6:12 kjv

And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Luke 6:12 nkjv

Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Luke 6:12 niv

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.

Luke 6:12 esv

In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.

Luke 6:12 nlt

One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night.

Luke 6 verses

Luke 6 12 Meaning

Luke 6:12 reveals Jesus withdrawing to a mountain to spend an entire night in prayer to God before making the pivotal decision to select His twelve apostles. This action emphasizes His profound dependence on His Heavenly Father, seeking divine guidance and communion in preparation for a crucial moment in His ministry. It showcases prayer as an essential discipline, particularly preceding significant acts of service or decision-making.

Luke 6 12 Context

Luke 6:12 immediately follows Jesus' actions and teachings regarding the Sabbath. In the preceding verses (Lk 6:1-11), Jesus permits His disciples to pick grain on the Sabbath and then controversially heals a man with a withered hand in the synagogue on the Sabbath, directly confronting the legalistic traditions of the Pharisees and scribes. These actions ignite intense opposition, with His adversaries "filled with rage" and conspiring against Him. Against this backdrop of growing conflict and mounting pressure, Jesus withdraws to the solitude of a mountain for a night of intense prayer. The subsequent verses (Lk 6:13-16) describe Jesus selecting the twelve apostles from among His disciples, a decision that would define the future leadership and expansion of His kingdom work. The chapter then continues with the Sermon on the Plain, instructing these new apostles and a wider audience. Therefore, Luke 6:12 serves as a vital bridge, demonstrating Jesus' spiritual preparation before establishing the foundation of His earthly mission.

Luke 6 12 Word analysis

• ἐγένετο δὲ (egeneto de): "Now it came to pass" or "It happened that." This is a characteristic Lukan transitional phrase (used frequently in Luke and Acts), drawing attention to the significant event that follows. It often marks a turning point or important development in the narrative.
• ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ταύταις (en tais hēmerais tautais): "In these days." This phrase broadly situates the event within the context of the recent past, specifically after the Sabbath controversies and preceding the choosing of the apostles. It ties the prayer closely to the challenging environment Jesus was facing.
• ἐξελθεῖν (exelthein): "to go out" or "to depart." This infinitive highlights Jesus' intentional physical removal from the crowd and the towns, signifying His desire for solitude and a focused time with God, away from worldly distractions and the recent tension with religious leaders.
• αὐτὸν (auton): "Him." Refers to Jesus, emphasizing that He specifically initiated this action.
• εἰς τὸ ὄρος (eis to oros): "to the mountain." The definite article "the" (τὸ) suggests it might have been a specific, perhaps well-known, mountain, or it emphasizes its role as a sacred place set apart. Mountains in the Bible are often associated with divine encounters, revelation, prayer, and significant events (e.g., Sinai, Transfiguration, Sermon on the Mount). It is a place conducive to communion with God, elevated above the noise of daily life.
• προσεύξασθαι (proseuxasthai): "to pray." This infinitive of purpose immediately states the reason for His withdrawal to the mountain. Prayer is not incidental but the express intention and primary activity for the entire period.
• καὶ (kai): "and." A simple conjunction, connecting the two parts of His action – going to the mountain and spending the night.
• διενυκτέρευσεν (dienyktereusen): "He spent the whole night." A compound verb (δια- meaning "through" or "during" and νυκτέρευσεν from νύξ meaning "night"). This is a strong and unique term in the New Testament, appearing only here in Luke. It underscores the extensive duration and dedication of Jesus' prayer, emphasizing an uninterrupted vigil through the entire night. This suggests the extreme earnestness and gravity of the matter He was bringing before God.
• ἐν τῇ προσευχῇ (en tē proseuchē): "in prayer." This reiterates the nature of His night-long activity. It wasn't merely spent "on the mountain," but in the act of prayer, deeply engaged in communion.
• τοῦ Θεοῦ (tou Theou): "of God" or "to God." This phrase specifies the divine recipient and object of Jesus' prayer, underscoring that His focus was entirely on His Father, seeking His will and guidance. It highlights the divine, vertical dimension of this private spiritual discipline.

Luke 6 12 Bonus section

The scene in Luke 6:12 carries subtle implications that are often echoed throughout Scripture. Jesus' retreat to a mountain before choosing His leaders can be seen as paralleling Moses ascending Mount Sinai to receive the Law and mediate a covenant for the people of Israel. Here, Jesus, the "New Moses," is on a mountain, preparing to establish the leadership for the "new covenant," through whom He will preach the "Sermon on the Plain" (following in Luke 6:17-49), a kind of new "Torah" or teaching. This highlights Jesus' messianic authority and divine connection. The practice of extended prayer, especially overnight, also shows a commitment often associated with prophets and spiritual leaders of Israel who interceded and sought God's face in times of great need or before momentous acts. This verse underscores that prayer is not merely an expression of piety but a functional means of spiritual warfare, discernment, and empowerment for divine service, essential for any significant undertaking in God's kingdom.

Luke 6 12 Commentary

Luke's emphasis on Jesus' prayer life is a defining characteristic of his Gospel, portraying prayer not just as a religious duty but as a vital breath of communion preceding every significant moment in Jesus' ministry. Here, Luke 6:12 serves as a pivotal scene: between the mounting antagonism from religious authorities (Lk 6:1-11) and the foundational act of appointing the apostles (Lk 6:13-16). Jesus does not react to the controversy with anger or immediate strategizing, but with intense, prolonged prayer.

The deliberate choice of a "mountain" (an ancient symbol for divine encounters) and the dedication of "the whole night" for prayer signify the immense weight and divine significance of the upcoming decision to select His apostles. This was not a casual consultation but a wrestling in spirit, a seeking of the Father's perfect will for the men who would carry the torch of His mission. It reveals Jesus' complete dependence on God, modeling for His followers that true power and guidance come not from human wisdom or strength, but from profound fellowship with the Almighty. This prayer vigil underscores the sacredness and seriousness with which Christ approached the building of His Church, ensuring that the foundations were laid under divine sanction and not human discretion alone.

• Example 1: A church leader spends a night in prayer before calling members to new leadership roles.
• Example 2: A Christian facing a life-altering career decision or personal crisis devotes an entire period to prayer and fasting.
• Example 3: Before beginning a significant ministry project, a team dedicates prolonged time to collective prayer for discernment.