Chapter 6:12-19 Choosing the Twelve

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.

We often think one half hour a great deal to spend in meditation and secret prayer, but Christ was whole nights engaged in these duties.

6:13 And when it was day, He called unto Him His disciples: and of them He chose twelve, whom also He named apostles;
And when it was day - Or morning; having spent the whole night in prayer to God, no doubt for His disciples, whom He was about to send forth as His apostles, to preach His Gospel, and work miracles, and for their success therein: He called unto Him His disciples - the whole company of them, whom he also named apostles; or "messengers".

6:14 Simon, (whom He also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,

Simon, whom He also named Peter - Which signifies a rock, or stone, and Andrew his brother; who was called at the same time with him, James and John: Philip and Bartholomew; the latter of these is by some thought to be Nathanael.

6:15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,

Matthew and Thomas - The first of these was a publican, and who also was called Levi; and the latter had besides the name of Didymus, and was he that was so unbelieving of Christ's resurrection: James the son of Alphaeus; sometimes called James the less, and the brother of our Lord: and Simon called Zelotes; or the Canaanite;

6:16 And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.

And Judas the brother of James - this Judas was also called Thaddaeus and Lebbaeus, and is the writer of the epistle that bears his name: and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor; both his surname and his character are mentioned, to distinguish him from the other Judas:

6:17 And He came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of His disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear Him, and to be healed of their diseases;

--The whole picture is striking--

Jesus ascends a mountain, employs the night in prayer; 

and, having thus solemnly invoked the Divine blessing, authoritatively separates the twelve apostles from the mass of His disciples. 

He then descends, and heals in the plain all the diseased among a great multitude, collected from various parts by the fame of His miraculous power. 

Having thus created attention, He likewise satisfies the desire of the people to hear His doctrine; and retiring first to the mountain whence He came, that His attentive hearers might follow Him and might better arrange themselves before Him - All admire his excellent sayings with sacred silence.

6:18 And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.
And they that were vexed with unclean spirits - Were possessed with devils, and sadly tormented and afflicted by them:
and they were healed - both such that had bodily diseases, and were under diabolical possessions.

6:19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him: for there went virtue out of Him, and healed them all.

for there went virtue out of Him; in great abundance, as water from a fountain; without his speaking a word, or using any gesture, such as laying His hands on them.

Chapter 6:1-11 Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

6:1 And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that He went through the corn fields; and His disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.
and His disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands - after they had plucked them they rubbed them in their hands to get clean off the husk or beard, that were on them, and then ate the grains.

6:2 And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?
And certain of the Pharisees said unto them - Unto the disciples. The Evangelists Matthew and Mark say, that they said this to Jesus: no doubt but they said it to both, first to one, and then to the other; probably last of all to Christ, who returned an answer to it:

6:3 And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him;
And Jesus answering them, said, - For they brought the charge against the disciples to Him, being desirous to know what He would say, and that they might have something to accuse Him of; and who, at once, took up the cause of his disciples, and vindicated them, by observing what David did, when he, and his men were an hungry; how that he went into the tabernacle, and took the showbread, and ate of it, and gave it to his men, who also ate of it; 

6:4 How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?
And, if God's own appointments might be thus set aside for a greater good, much more may the traditions of men.

6:5 And He said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

The Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

6:6 And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that He entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.
and there was a man whose right hand was withered - who was in the synagogue, and one of His hearers; 

6:7 And the scribes and Pharisees watched Him, whether He would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against Him.
The scribes and Pharisees would not, as became generous adversaries, give him fair warning that, if He did heal on the sabbath day, they would construe it into a violation of the fourth commandment, which they ought in honor and justice to have done, because it was a case without precedent (none having ever cured as He did), but they basely watched Him, as the lion does his prey, whether He would heal on the sabbath day, that they might find an accusation against Him, and surprise Him with a prosecution.

6:8 But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.
Christ was neither ashamed nor afraid to own the purposes of His grace, in the face of those who, He knew, confronted them. He knew their faults, and what they designed, and He bade the man rise, and stand forth, hereby to try the patient's faith and boldness.

6:9 Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?
is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it? - that to save life on the sabbath day was agreeable to their own canons: there were many things which they allowed might be done on the sabbath day, when life was in danger, which otherwise were not lawful;

6:10 And looking round about upon them all, He said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
I think I see that piercing glance, which read their very hearts, and condemned the wickedness it saw there: Looking round about upon them all.

6:11 And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.

And they were filed with madness - Both at the cure, and because they could not answer Him; nor properly fix a charge upon Him, or accuse Him before the people.