acts-6:1-2-web

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 6:1

The number of the disciples of Jesus continued to grow. This is the first mention of the word "disciple" in Acts where it occurs 28 times. The word appears about 238 times in the Gospels but nowhere else in the New Testament. This is probably because when Jesus was present, or had just departed to heaven, the New Testament writers referred to His followers in relationship to Him. Afterward they identified them in relation to one another and society. [Note: Blaiklock, p. 74.] Two types of Jews... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 6:1-7

4. Internal conflict 6:1-7The scene shifts back to life within the church (cf. Acts 4:32 to Acts 5:11). Luke wrote this pericope to explain some administrative changes that the growth of the church made necessary. He also wanted to introduce the Hellenistic Jews who took the lead in evangelizing the Gentiles. Their activity began shortly after the event he recorded here.In this chapter we see two of Satan’s favorite methods of assailing the church that he has employed throughout history:... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 6:2-4

The 12 apostles wisely delegated responsibility for this ministry to other qualified men in the congregation so it would not distract them from their primary duties. This is the only reference to the Twelve in Acts (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:5), though Luke referred to the Eleven earlier (Acts 2:14). Serving tables probably involved the organization and administration of ministry to the widows rather than simply serving as waiters or dispensers (cf. Matthew 21:12; Luke 19:23). [Note: Longenecker, p.... read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Acts 6:1

6:1 Hellenists (b-16) * i.e. Greek Jews. read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Acts 6:2

6:2 right (c-17) I apprehend that 'right,' 'proper,' is the sense; not merely that it did not please the apostles. 'Pleasing to God,' I understand, but used for man it is arbitrary. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 6:1-15

Stephen and the Seven1-7. The Hebrew-speaking Jews, who were in a majority in the Church of Jerusalem, were inclined to despise and neglect the minority who spoke Greek. In particular, the Greek-speaking widows received less food than their Hebrew-speaking sisters. This led to complaints, and the impartiality of the Apostles was called in question. The Apostles, finding the distribution of charity too great a burden for them, summoned a meeting of the Church, and called upon the brethren to... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Acts 6:1

VI.(1) And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied.—Better, were being multiplied, as by an almost daily increase. The length of the interval between this and the previous chapter is left uncertain. The death of Stephen is fixed by most writers in A.D. 38.The Grecians.—The English version always carefully uses this word, and not Greeks, for the Hellenistæ or Greek-speaking Jews. These were known also as “the dispersion among the Gentiles” (John 7:35), or generally as “the... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Acts 6:2

(2) Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples.—The Apostles meet the crisis with singular tact and moderation. They do not resent the suspicion; they are not careful to vindicate themselves against it. They remembered, it may be, the precedent presented by the life of Moses (Exodus 18:25), and they act, as he had acted, by delegating part of their authority to others. The collective action of the multitude is strikingly in harmony with the Greek ideas attached to the word Ecclesia,... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Acts 6:1-15

The Angel in Man Acts 6:15 The angels seen in the New Testament are described as having glorious countenances. The probability is that at this wonderful moment in the life of this remarkable man he was in a measure transfigured. There is in the countenance of Stephen a manifestation of something within him that may be called angelic. I. In the first place, I would consider the angel in human life in its universal latency. You may put it in another way, viz.: In every human being born into... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Acts 6:1-4

Chapter 13PRIMITIVE DISSENSIONS AND APOSTOLIC PRECAUTIONS.Acts 6:1-4The sixth chapter of the Acts, and the election of the Seven, mark a distinct advance in the career of the early Church. This sixth chapter is like the twelfth of Genesis and the introduction of Abraham upon the stage of sacred history. We feel at once as if the narrative of Genesis had come into contact with modern times, leaving the mysterious period of darkness all behind. So is it with the Acts of the Apostles. The earliest... read more

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 6:1

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 6:1-7

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 6:2-4

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Acts 6:1

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Acts 6:2

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 6:1-15

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Acts 6:1

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Acts 6:2

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Acts 6:1-15

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Acts 6:1-4

Group of Brands