In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This wasn't just an all-night prayer vigil; the original Greek hints that Jesus was engaged in fervent and earnest prayer. It suggests Jesus poured out His heart to God with an intensity that consumed the entire night, not just spent time in a designated prayer place.
In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus had just finished teaching about who is truly blessed, contrasting worldly values with God's kingdom. He was preparing to make a crucial decision: choosing his twelve apostles. Before this pivotal moment, Jesus withdrew to a mountain for an entire night of prayer, seeking divine guidance and strength for the monumental task ahead.
Jesus is about to make a monumental decision: choosing His closest companions. What does He do right before? He goes to a mountain to pray. Why is this so crucial?
The night Jesus spent in prayer wasn't just a quiet moment; it was a strategic act of preparation for the immense task ahead. He was about to appoint the twelve apostles, the very foundation stones of His church.
Seeking Divine Counsel
This wasn't a last-minute decision. The scholars note that this prayer was a deliberate act before a critical moment, akin to seeking guidance for a major undertaking. The intensity—an entire night—underscores the weight of this choice.
An Example for Us
Jesus, fully divine, still recognized the necessity of seeking God's will and strength through prayer. As a man, He shows us that even in the most important decisions, aligning ourselves with God's plan through prayer is paramount. It's about seeking wisdom, blessing, and direction for the tasks God lays before us, especially those with significant impact.
Luke doesn't just say Jesus prayed; he emphasizes the duration and dedication. What does 'all night in prayer' reveal about Jesus' relationship with the Father?
The phrase 'continued all night in prayer' speaks volumes about Jesus' deep communion with God. This wasn't a few moments of petition; it was an extended period of sustained devotion.
A Place of Solitude
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Jesus went 'out into a mountain.' This wasn't just any mountain, but likely a familiar, secluded spot chosen for uninterrupted communion. These places offered a sense of awe and a quiet space away from the demands of the crowds, allowing for focused intimacy with God.
Unwavering Devotion
The commentators suggest that 'prayer to God' might even imply a particularly fervent or earnest prayer. The sheer length of time indicates a profound engagement, perhaps wrestling with the weight of the upcoming choices and the future of His ministry. This was not passive waiting but active, fervent petition.
Understand the original words
proseuchē · Greek Noun
The act of communicating with the Creator. In Scripture, it is a posture of dependence, submission, and fellowship, modeled perfectly by Jesus throughout His ministry.
This pivotal moment of Jesus praying all night highlights the immense spiritual weight and divine guidance required for appointing the foundational leaders of His church, demonstrating a profound reliance on God before a critical decision.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus Begins Public Ministry
Jesus has been teaching and healing in Galilee, gathering a growing following and attracting the attention of religious leaders.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Jesus Selects the Twelve Apostles
Jesus spends an entire night in prayer on a mountain before choosing and commissioning the twelve men who would become His closest disciples and the foundation of the early church.
Early 1st century AD
Apostles Commissioned and Sent Out
Following the night of prayer, Jesus bestows authority upon the twelve apostles, sending them out to preach and heal.
Early 1st century AD
Growing Crowds and Opposition
As Jesus' ministry expands, so does the size of the crowds following Him, alongside increasing opposition from Jewish authorities.
This passage shows Jesus rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, to go to a desolate place and pray, highlighting his consistent pattern of seeking God in solitude before ministry.
Luke 3:21-22Immediately following Jesus' baptism, Luke records that He was praying when the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended, showing prayer preceding and accompanying pivotal moments of divine affirmation.
Luke 9:28-29Before the Transfiguration, Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray, and while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, demonstrating how prayer can lead to divine revelation and transformation.
John 17:1-26This is Jesus' 'high priestly prayer' where He prays for Himself, His disciples, and all future believers, showing the deep concern and intercession He offered to the Father before His ultimate sacrifice.
barnesLuke 6:12: "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."
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 impressivenes…
clarkeLuke 6:12: "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."
In prayer to God - Or, in the prayer of God: or, in the oratory of God, εν τῃ προσευχῃ του Θεου. So this passage is translated by many critics; for which Dr. Whitby gives the following reasons: As the mountain of God, Exodus 3:1 ; Exodus 4:27 ; the bread of God, Leviticus 21:17 ; the lamp of God, 1 Samuel 3:3 ; the vessels of God, 1 Chronicles 22:19 ; the altar o…
This wasn't just an all-night prayer vigil; the original Greek hints that Jesus was engaged in fervent and earnest prayer. It suggests Jesus poured out His heart to God with an intensity that consumed the entire night, not just spent time in a designated prayer place.
Jesus had just finished teaching about who is truly blessed, contrasting worldly values with God's kingdom. He was preparing to make a crucial decision: choosing his twelve apostles. Before this pivotal moment, Jesus withdrew to a mountain for an entire night of prayer, seeking divine guidance and strength for the monumental task ahead.
Jesus had just finished teaching about who is truly blessed, contrasting worldly values with God's kingdom. He was preparing to make a crucial decision: choosing his twelve apostles. Before this pivotal moment, Jesus withdrew to a mountain for an entire night of prayer, seeking divine guidance and strength for the monumental task ahead.
"In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God." — This wasn't just an all-night prayer vigil; the original Greek hints that Jesus was engaged in fervent and earnest prayer. It suggests Jesus poured out His heart to God with an intensity that con…
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Last reviewed October 2026