Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him. And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him, for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him. And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.
Comment: Obviously the fame of this powerful preacher and miracle worker spread rapidly in the region. We read in an earlier passage that Jesus had chosen to go on and preach the Good News of the Kingdom (the Gospel) rather than be totally involved in His miraculous healing ministry.
And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons. He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew (Nathanael), and Matthew (Levi), and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus (Jude, Judas, not Iscariot), and Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Comment: The first four were called early in the Ministry of Jesus to be followers/disciples of Jesus. Here they are called Apostles. After them the names are added and, and, and one by one. We met Matthew/Levi before when he was called and visiting him and his mates caused a kerfuffle for Jesus! Maybe some were added to the list for the first time during this trip up the mountain. There were pretty obviously others who were disciples and not appointed Apostles. And the chosen were a mixed group background wise. Fishermen, a tax gatherer, a zealot, a very religious Jew, a questioner, a traitor. Did Jesus know at this stage that Judas Iscariot was going to be a thief and a traitor? Their calling was to preach and cast out demons. Were there more demons in those days or as CS Lewis said in Screwtape Letters is it that the devil seeks to make us obsessed with or denying the reality of demons? Human nature tends to be pendular in its understanding of reality!
Proverbs 22: 4… The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life. – Are these riches always monetary?
Prayer: I would be a faithful follower of You, Lord Jesus.
As I read it! 