Acts 6:1-7,1 Timothy 3:8-15

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Acts 6:7

And 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.Increased ... exceedingly ... At a number of places in Acts, namely, here, Acts 9:30; 12:24; 16:5; 19:20; and 28:31, Luke paused to note the continued success of the gospel. C. H. Turner pointed out that Acts is thus cut into six panels covering, on an average, about five years each.[16]A great company of the priests believed ... Only... 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

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 6:3

Acts 6:3. Of honest report,— Of good credit. Heylin. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 6:5

Acts 6:5. And they chose Stephen,— Some have thought that Stephen was one of the seventy; but it seems a precarious conjecture. The, termination of most of these names makes it probable that they were Hellenists;—a supposition which agrees very well with the occasion of their election. Nicolas was not a Jew born, but a proselyte of Antioch, whom they were the more willing to fix in this office, as his peculiar relation to the Grecians would make him especially careful to remedy any neglect of... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 6:7

Acts 6:7. And a great company of the priests— We learn from Ezr 2:36-39 that 4289 priests returned from the captivity; the number of whom was now probably very much increased. It is certainly wonderful that a great multitude of the priests should embrace the gospel, considering what peculiar resentments they must expect from their unbelieving brethren, and the great losses to which they must be exposed in consequence of being cast out of their office. But the grace of God was sufficient to... 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

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 6:2

2-4. the multitude—the general body of the disciples. It is not reason—The word expresses dislike; that is "We cannot submit." to leave the word of God—to have our time and attention withdrawn from preaching; which, it thus appears, they regarded as their primary duty. to serve tables—oversee the distribution of provisions. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 6:3

3. look ye out among you—that is, ye, "the multitude," from among yourselves. seven men of honest report—good reputation (Acts 10:22; 1 Timothy 3:7). full of the Holy Ghost—not full of miraculous gifts, which would have been no qualification for the duties required, but spiritually gifted (although on two of them miraculous power did rest). and wisdom—discretion, aptitude for practical business. whom we may appoint—for while the election was vested in the Christian people, the appointment lay... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 6:4

4. we will give ourselves to prayer—public prayer, as along with preaching their great work. read more

Grupo de Marcas