acts-6:1-2-web

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 6:2-4

Acts 6:2-4. Then the twelve For such was now again their number, Matthias having supplied the place of Judas; called the multitude of the disciples unto them Not the rest of the one hundred and twenty merely, but the whole body of Christian converts, they being the persons to whom satisfaction was then due. See Whitby. It was of great importance that the apostles should immediately take measures to suppress these rising murmurs and discontents; for had they been suffered to remain and... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Acts 6:1-6

6:1-8:3 CHANGES IN JERUSALEMOrganizing church affairs (6:1-6)In the Jerusalem church there were two types of Jews, those brought up in Palestine who spoke Aramaic and those brought up in other places (such as Jews of the Dispersion) who spoke only Greek. The Greek-speaking Jews were known as Hellenists. Throughout Palestine there was tension between the two groups, and this tension carried over into the church. The Hellenists complained that, when widows were given their daily share from the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 6:1

murmuring. Greek. gongusmos An onomatopoeic word. Here, John 7:12 . Php 2:14 ; 1 Peter 4:9 . Grecians = Greek-speaking Jews. Greek. Hellenistes. neglected = being overlooked. Greek. paratheoreo. Compare App-133 . Only here. daily. Greek. kathemerinos. Only here. ministration = ministering. App-190 . It was the relief of Acts 2:44 , Acts 2:45 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 6:2

reason pleasing. Greek. arestos. Occurs also 3 John 1:8; 3 John 1:8 :29 . 1 John 3:22 . word. App-121 . God. App-98 . serve. App-190 . tables. i.e. the business of distribution. Figure of speech Idioma. App-6 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Acts 6:1

This very short chapter narrates the preliminaries of Stephen's martyrdom, noting that it occurred following a period of great growth and prosperity for the new faith (Acts 6:1), that Stephen's rise to prominence was a result of his appointment as one of the seven chosen to administer the distribution of food to the needy, an appointment brought about by complaints of neglecting the Grecian widows (Acts 6:2-7), and that his popularity, ability in debate, and fearless proclamation of the truth... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Acts 6:2

And 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.The twelve ... "shows that Matthias was one of the apostles, for it would take him to complete the list of the twelve."[5]It is not fit that we should ... Many commentators read this as if it said, "It is not fit that we should CONTINUE to serve tables," assuming that until this incident the twelve had personally distributed the food to the needy; but... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 6:1

Acts 6:1. There arose a murmuring of the Grecians, &c.— Or, the Hellenists. There is not all the light which some have wished for concerning the distinction of the Jews into Hebrews and Hellenists; but the following appears the most probable account. The Jews who inhabited Judea, and those of the eastern dispersions, generally retained the Syro-Chaldaic, which in the New Testament is called the Hebrew language; but those of the western dispersions generally made use of the Greek, the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 6:2

Acts 6:2. The multitude of the disciples— That is, the whole body of Christian converts; they being the persons to whom satisfaction was then due. And serve tables, is in the Greek δικκονειν τραπεζαις, to minister to, or take care of the tables, that is, of the poor;—to attend to the distribution of charitable gifts among them. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 6:1

1. the Grecians—the Greek-speaking Jews, mostly born in the provinces. the Hebrews—those Jews born in Palestine who used their native tongue, and were wont to look down on the "Grecians" as an inferior class. were neglected—"overlooked" by those whom the apostles employed, and who were probably of the Hebrew class, as being the most numerous. The complaint was in all likelihood well founded, though we cannot suspect the distributors of intentional partiality. "It was really just an emulation of... read more