12. Now in those days it occurred that He went up into a mountain to pray, and spent the whole night in prayer to God.
13. And when it was day, He summoned His disciples and selected from them twelve, whom He named apostles (special messengers):
14. They were Simon, whom He named Peter, and his brother Andrew; and James and John; and Philip and Bartholomew;
15. And Matthew and Thomas; and James son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot,
16. And Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor (a treacherous, basely faithless person).
17. And Jesus came down with them and took His stand on a level spot, with a great crowd of His disciples and a vast throng of people from all over Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to listen to Him and to be cured of their diseases–
18. Even those who were disturbed and troubled with unclean spirits, and they were being healed [also].
19. And all the multitude were seeking to touch Him, for healing power was all the while going forth from Him and curing them all [saving them from severe illnesses or calamities].
20. And solemnly lifting up His eyes on His disciples, He said: Blessed (happy–with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, apart from your outward condition–and to be envied) are you poor and lowly and afflicted (destitute of wealth, influence, position, and honor), for the kingdom of God is yours!