Acts6
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1Now in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
2And the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not fit that we should forsake the word of God, and serve tables.
3Look ye out therefore, brethren, from among you seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4But we will continue stedfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word.
5And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus a proselyte of Antioch;
6whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands upon them.
7And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
8And Stephen, full of grace and power, wrought great wonders and signs among the people.
9But there arose certain of them that were of the synagogue called the synagogue of the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.
10And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake.
11Then they suborned men, who said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
12And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and seized him, and brought him into the council,
13and set up false witnesses, who said, This man ceaseth not to speak words against this holy place, and the law:
14for we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered unto us.
15And all that sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Acts 6.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The appointment of deacons. (1–7). Stephen falsely accused of blasphemy. (8–15).
vv1-7
Hitherto the disciples had been of one accord; this often had been noticed to their honour; but now they were multiplied, they began to murmur. The word of God was enough to take up all the thoughts, cares, and time of the apostles. The persons chosen to serve tables must be duly qualified. They must be filled with gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost, necessary to rightly managing this trust; men of truth, and hating covetousness. All who are employed in the service of the church, ought to be commended to the Divine grace by the prayers of the church. They blessed them in the name of the Lord. The word and grace of God are greatly magnified, when those are wrought upon by it, who were least likely.
vv8-15
When they could not answer Stephen's arguments as a disputant, they prosecuted him as a criminal, and brought false witnesses against him. And it is next to a miracle of providence, that no greater number of religious persons have been murdered in the world, by the way of perjury and pretence of law, when so many thousands hate them, who make no conscience of false oaths. Wisdom and holiness make a man's face to shine, yet will not secure men from being treated badly. What shall we say of man, a rational being, yet attempting to uphold a religious system by false witness and murder! And this has been done in numberless instances. But the blame rests not so much upon the understanding, as upon the heart of a fallen creature, which is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Yet the servant of the Lord, possessing a clear conscience, cheerful hope, and Divine consolations, may smile in the midst of danger and death.
Key Words
δέ (dé): but, and, etc.
ἐν (en): "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
ταύταις (taútais): (to or with or by, etc.) these
ἡμέρα (hēméra): day, i.e. (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the Jews as inclusive of the parts of both extremes); figuratively, a period (always defined more or less clearly by the context)
μαθητής (mathētḗs): a learner, i.e. pupil
πληθύνω (plēthýnō): to increase (transitively or intransitively)
γογγυσμός (gongysmós): a grumbling
Ἑλληνιστής (Hellēnistḗs): a Hellenist or Greek-speaking Jew
γίνομαι (gínomai): to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
πρός (prós): a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated)
Cross References
Acts 6Jethro's advice to Moses to appoint assistants to handle temporal disputes, preventing leader burnout.
Supported by John Calvin
The Old Testament precedent where Moses laid hands on Joshua to commission him to office.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Fulfillment of Christ's promise to give His disciples wisdom which adversaries cannot resist.
Supported by JFB
Stephen's face shining like an angel's, mirroring Moses' face shining when descending from Mount Sinai.
Supported by JFB
The formal qualifications laid down by Paul for the office of deacon established here.
Supported by JFB
Moses command to the people to choose wise, understanding, and known men for leaders.
Supported by John Calvin
The ancient practice of laying on of hands for blessing, derived from patriarchal times.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Precedent of hiring false witnesses to charge someone with blaspheming God and the king.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel false charge brought against Paul for speaking against the temple and the law.
Supported by JFB
Corroboration of the qualification of 'honest report' or good reputation in the community.
Supported by JFB
The apostolic pattern of prayer accompanying the selection and appointment of church officers.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Saul of Tarsus, being from Cilicia, likely disputed with Stephen in this regional synagogue.
Supported by JFB
Priests and prophets demanding Jeremiah's death for prophesying against the city and temple.
Supported by JFB
Stephen's later explicit statement that his opponents were actively resisting the Holy Spirit.
Supported by JFB