Jesus nahm zu sich die Zwölfe (Jesus took the twelve under Him), BWV 22, is a sacred cantata composed by Johann Sebastian Bach.

It was composed in Köthen in 1723 for Quinquagesima Sunday (also known as Estomihi) as Bach's test piece (with Du wahrer Gott und Davids Sohn, BWV 23) for the position of Thomaskantor in Leipzig. The work was premiered on 7 February 1723, and again on 20 February 1724.

The prescribed readings for the day are 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13; and Luke 18: 31-43. The text of the work draws on the Gospel for the first movement (specifically, verses 31 and 34), an unknown author for movements 2-4, and poetess Elisabeth Kreuziger from Wittenberg for the final verse.

The chorale theme Herr Christ, der einge Gottessohn (Zahn 4297a) was codified by Wolflin Lochamer in his 1455 homonym Liederbuch, published in Nürnberg. It first appears as a sacred tune in the Geystlich Gesangk Buchleyn printed in Wittenberg in 1524 under the auspices of Johann Walter.


Scoring and structure
The piece is scored for oboe, violins I/II, viola, and basso continuo three vocal soloists (altus, tenor, and bass) and four-part choir. It is in five movements:

1. (Arioso) e (Coro): "Jesus nahm zu sich die Zwölfe" for choir, tenor and bass soloists, and orchestral tutti.
2. Aria: "Mein Jesu, ziehe mich nach dir" for altus, oboe, and continuo.
3. Recitativo: "Mein Jesu, ziehe mich, so werd ich laufen" for bass, strings, and continuo.
4. Aria: "Mein alles in allem, mein ewiges Gut" for tenor, strings, and continuo.
5. Choral: "Ertöt uns durch dein Güte" for choir, oboe, strings, and continuo.

Text
Recordings

• Bach Cantatas From Mühlhausen, Weimar & Leipzig - Sopr.: Teresa Radomski; Alt.: Lee Morgan; Ten.: Richard Heard; Bass-Bar.: Doug Crawley; Carolina Baroque; Dale Higbee (Director); James Bates, conductor. Label: Carolina Baroque 128
• Bach Cantatas Vol. 21: Cambridge/Walpole St Peter - Alt.: Claudia Schubert; Ten.: James Oxley; Bass: Peter Harvey; Monteverdi Choir, the Choirs of Clare and Trinity Colleges, Cambridge/English Baroque Soloists; John Eliot Gardiner, conductor. Label: Soli Deo Gloria
• Bach Edition Vol. 5 - Cantatas Vol. 2 - Alt.: Sytse Buwalda; Ten.: Nico van der Meel; Bass: Bas Ramselaar; Holland Boys Choir/Netherlands Bach Collegium; Pieter Jan Leusink, conductor. Label: Brilliant Classics
• Die Bach Kantate Vol. 28 - Alt.: Helen Watts; Ten.: Adalbert Kraus; Bass: Wolfgang Schöne; Gächinger Kantorei/Bach-Collegium Stuttgart; Helmuth Rilling, conductor. Label: Hänssler
• J.S. Bach: Cantatas Vol. 8 - Leipzig Cantatas - Alt.: Yoshikazu Mera; Ten.: Gerd Türk; Bass: Peter Kooy; Bach Collegium Japan; Masaaki Suzuki, conductor. Label: BIS 901
• J.S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 3 - Alt.: Elisabeth von Magnus; Ten.: Paul Agnew; Bass: Klaus Mertens; Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir; Ton Koopman, conductor. Label: Erato/Antoine Marchand
• J.S. Bach: Das Kantatenwerk - Sacred Cantatas Vol. 2 - Alt.: Paul Esswood; Ten.: Kurt Equiluz; Bass: Max van Egmond; Tölzer Knabenchor (Chorus Master: Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden) & King's College Choir, Cambridge (Chorus Master: David Willcocks)/Leonhardt-Consort; Gustav Leonhardt, conductor. Label: Teldec

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