The Calling of the Twelve: Gospel Story Comparison

In Luke 6:12–16, we see Jesus ascend a mountain, spend the night in prayer, and then call and name twelve apostles from among his disciples. On the surface, this appears to be a historical account of Jesus selecting his core followers. But if we understand the Bible as Neville Goddard taught—as a psychological drama unfolding within—the meaning shifts dramatically. The calling of the twelve is not an outer event, but an inward selection of faculties within the individual.

The Mountain: Withdrawal into Higher Consciousness

The passage begins with Jesus going up a mountain to pray. For Neville, mountains symbolise elevated states of consciousness. Climbing the mountain is withdrawing attention from the world of senses and ascending into the realm of imagination—the creative centre. Jesus, representing the awakened imagination or “I AM,” retreats into this higher state to commune with the Father—pure awareness itself.

Prayer, in this sense, is not petition but union—an inner movement where one assumes the feeling of the wish fulfilled. The night of prayer represents sustained attention in the unseen reality before any manifestation appears.

Disciples and Apostles: The Inner Shift from Receptivity to Power

Luke 6:13 makes an important distinction:

“When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles.”

In Scripture, disciples are learners—those who follow and receive. But from among these, twelve are chosen and named apostles—those sent forth with authority. Neville Goddard saw this not as external hierarchy, but as symbolic of the transformation that takes place within.

The disciples represent inner faculties in training—unstructured powers of thought, feeling, belief, and perception. They are part of us, following the inner Christ, yet still subject to the outer world and undisciplined imagination.

But once these faculties are named and appointed, they become apostles. In biblical terms, to name something is to give it identity and purpose. In spiritual terms, it is the moment your inner powers come under the conscious direction of “I AM.” These apostles are the trained faculties—no longer merely observing or reacting, but now deliberately creating. The movement from disciple to apostle is the inner shift from passive acceptance to active authorship.

The Calling in the Other Gospels

This symbolic journey is echoed in Matthew and Mark, each with its own emphasis.

In Matthew 10:1–4, Jesus calls the twelve and gives them authority over unclean spirits and disease. Neville would interpret this authority not as external power, but as the ability to govern one’s inner world. "Unclean spirits" represent mental disturbances, compulsions, and false assumptions. “Disease” symbolises inner misalignment—distorted thought patterns. The naming of the apostles here points to the ordering of consciousness: once faculties like faith and imagination are named and assumed, they can cast out doubt and heal divided belief.

In Mark 3:13–19, Jesus ascends a mountain and calls those he wanted, that they might be with him and that he might send them out. The emphasis here is on intimacy and proximity before sending—your faculties must first be with the imagination, attuned to it, aligned with its vibration, before they can be effectively sent forth to manifest.

Luke alone includes the detail that Jesus spent the entire night in prayer before naming the twelve (Luke 6:12). Neville would see this as crucial. The naming of inner powers does not occur casually—it follows deep, sustained identification with the desired state. It is in this inner silence and persistence that the true names of your faculties are revealed and empowered.

Each gospel describes the same transition: from the scattered, reactive potential of the mind (disciples) to the consciously directed powers of imagination (apostles). The sequence is consistent—withdrawal (the mountain), inner communion (prayer), selection (calling), and direction (sending). It is the process by which the inner kingdom is built.

The Twelve: Powers of the Mind Brought into Order

Neville often explained that the twelve apostles symbolise twelve aspects or disciplines of the human mind. Each one is a spiritual capacity you must bring under control if you wish to manifest deliberately.

For instance:

• Peter, whose name means “rock,” symbolises faith—the foundation of all manifestation.

• James and John, called the sons of thunder, may represent love and wisdom, or passionate intent and clarity of direction.

• Judas, who will later betray Jesus, symbolises the misuse of imagination—the part of us that doubts, that trades the truth of the unseen for the “silver” of external validation.

Each of these powers exists within us. But until we go “up the mountain” and enter into prayer—into union with our assumption—we do not name them, and they do not serve us. They remain disciples: scattered, undeveloped, following impressions from the outside.

Once named, they become apostles—faculties of mind that are consciously sent into the world with purpose. This is not the sending of words, but the sending of feelings, assumptions, and beliefs into the field of consciousness. As Neville taught, “You rise from the prayer believing that you are already what you want to be.” That is the apostolic act.

Conclusion: Building the Inner Kingdom

The calling of the twelve is not merely a selection of spiritual figures—it is the moment you take ownership of your mind. The inner Jesus—your imagination—chooses, names, and directs the powers of consciousness. This transition is the difference between aimless wishing and deliberate creation.

The distinction between disciple and apostle shows us the whole arc of spiritual evolution: from learning to commanding, from hearing truth to becoming it.

It begins when you ascend the mountain—when you choose to withdraw from appearances and dwell in your chosen state. From there, you return not empty-handed, but with power. The kingdom of heaven is built on these twelve—your faculties, named and sent.