Acts 6:10

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 6:8-15

Stephen, no doubt was diligent and faithful in the discharge of his office as distributor of the church's charity, and laid out himself to put that affair in a good method, which he did to universal satisfaction; and though it appears here that he was a man of uncommon gifts, and fitted for a higher station, yet, being called to that office, he did not think it below him to do the duty of it. And, being faithful in a little, he was entrusted with more; and, though we do not find him... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 6:8-15

6:8-15 Stephen, full of grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. There arose in debate with Stephen certain members of the synagogue of the Libertines and of the Cyrenians and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia; and they could find no answer to his wisdom and to the Spirit with whose help he spoke. So they formed a plot to introduce certain men who alleged, "We heard this man speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God." So they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 6:10

And they were not able to resist the wisdom ,.... In Beza's most ancient copy, and in another manuscript it is added, "which was in him"; that divine wisdom, which the Spirit of wisdom gave him; they were not a match for him with respect to the knowledge of divine things; they could not answer the wise arguments he made use of, fetched out of the Scriptures of truth, in which he was well versed, and had a large knowledge of: and the Spirit by which he spake ; that is, the Holy Spirit, as... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 6:10

They there not able to resist the wisdom, etc. - He was wise, well exercised and experienced, in Divine things; and, as appears by his defense, in the following chapter, well versed in the Jewish history. The spirit by which he spake was the Holy Spirit, and its power was irresistible. They were obliged either to yield to its teachings, or were confounded by its truth. Several MSS. add to this verse, because he reproved them with boldness, they could not resist the truth. This reading is not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:8-15

The service of the lip and the glory of the countenance. The wise step of appointing seven deacons "to serve tables," and thus to liberate the apostles for prayer and preaching, like other good causes, had results which reached beyond the first object of it. It led to the formation of a most useful body of men, who have served Christ and his Church in other things beside mere "tables 'or temporalities. It brought out Stephen; and who shall say how much that had to do with the conversion of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:8-15

Stephen's work and witness. I. HIS SPIRIT DESCRIBED . "Full of grace and power. " We can feel rather than define the force of those words. Grace is first the favor of God felt in the man's soul, then manifested in his whole bearing, tone, conversation, and way of life. The effect is like the cause; the recipient of Divine favor makes a deeply favorable impression upon others. Power, again, is the Divine will making itself felt in the man as his will; and the effect is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:8-15

Stephen before the council. The conflict between the spirit of Judaism and the Spirit of Christ. Show the importance of this conflict in the early Church, lasting for more than a whole generation, lingering into the second century. But chiefly brought to an end through one (Saul of Tarsus), himself a trophy of the Spirit, exalted out of the very midst of the fiercest fire of Jewish bigotry. I. THE DIVINE WITNESS . Stephen. 1. Natural gifts; Jewish training; Hellenistic.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:9-15

Fanaticism. Fanaticism has one respectable feature, that it is sincere. The fanatic believes what he asserts to be true, and he is earnest and zealous in the maintenance and propagation of his belief. But when we have said thus much we have said all that can be said in his favor. In fanaticism there is a culpable neglect of the reason which God has given to man to be his guide. The fanatic shuts his eyes and closes his ears, and rushes on his way with no more reflection or discrimination... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:10

Withstand for resist, A.V. This was a part of the "power" mentioned in Acts 6:8 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:10-11

The weakness of persecutors. Attention is drawn to the fact, which has received frequent illustration through the martyr-ages, that men only resort to persecuting tactics when they become conscious of their moral helplessness and theological inefficiency. The persecutor is like the swearer; No man ever needs to curse if his word is known to he truthful. No man ever needs to persecute if he has the right on his side, and faith in those moral forces which ever uphold the right. As the line... read more

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