5 And G2532 the saying G3056 pleased G700 G1799 the whole G3956 multitude: G4128 and G2532 they chose G1586 Stephen, G4736 a man G435 full G4134 of faith G4102 and G2532 of the Holy G40 Ghost, G4151 and G2532 Philip, G5376 and G2532 Prochorus, G4402 and G2532 Nicanor, G3527 and G2532 Timon, G5096 and G2532 Parmenas, G3937 and G2532 Nicolas G3532 a proselyte G4339 of Antioch: G491
Then G1161 Philip G5376 went down G2718 to G1519 the city G4172 of Samaria, G4540 and preached G2784 Christ G5547 unto them. G846 And G5037 the people G3793 with one accord G3661 gave heed G4337 unto those things which Philip G5376 spake, G3004 G5259 hearing G1722 G191 G846 and G2532 seeing G991 the miracles G4592 which G3739 he did. G4160 For G1063 unclean G169 spirits, G4151 crying G994 with loud G3173 voice, G5456 came out G1831 of many G4183 that were possessed G2192 with them: and G1161 many G4183 taken with palsies, G3886 and G2532 that were lame, G5560 were healed. G2323 And G2532 there was G1096 great G3173 joy G5479 in G1722 that G1565 city. G4172 But G1161 there was a certain G5100 man, G435 called G3686 Simon, G4613 which beforetime G4391 in G1722 the same city G4172 used sorcery, G3096 and G2532 bewitched G1839 the people G1484 of Samaria, G4540 giving out G3004 that himself G1438 was G1511 some G5100 great one: G3173 To whom G3739 they all G3956 gave heed, G4337 from G575 the least G3398 to G2193 the greatest, G3173 saying, G3004 This man G3778 is G2076 the great G3173 power G1411 of God. G2316 And G1161 to him G846 they had regard, G4337 because G1223 that of long G2425 time G5550 he had bewitched G1839 them G846 with sorceries. G3095 But G1161 when G3753 they believed G4100 Philip G5376 preaching G2097 the things concerning G4012 the kingdom G932 of God, G2316 and G2532 the name G3686 of Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 they were baptized, G907 both G5037 men G435 and G2532 women. G1135 Then G1161 Simon G4613 himself G846 believed G4100 also: G2532 and G2532 when he was baptized, G907 he continued G2258 G4342 with Philip, G5376 and G5037 wondered, G1839 beholding G2334 the miracles G1411 and G2532 signs G4592 G3173 which were done. G1096 G1096 Now G1161 when the apostles G652 which G3588 were at G1722 Jerusalem G2414 heard G191 that G3754 Samaria G4540 had received G1209 the word G3056 of God, G2316 they sent G649 unto G4314 them G846 Peter G4074 and G2532 John: G2491 Who, G3748 when they were come down, G2597 prayed G4336 for G4012 them, G846 that G3704 they might receive G2983 the Holy G40 Ghost: G4151 (For G1063 as yet G3768 he was G2258 fallen G1968 upon G1909 none G3762 of them: G846 only G3440 G1161 they were G5225 baptized G907 in G1519 the name G3686 of the Lord G2962 Jesus.) G2424 Then G5119 laid they G2007 their hands G5495 on G1909 them, G846 and G2532 they received G2983 the Holy G40 Ghost. G4151 And G1161 when Simon G4613 saw G2300 that G3754 through G1223 laying on G1936 of the apostles' G652 hands G5495 the Holy G40 Ghost G4151 was given, G1325 he offered G4374 them G846 money, G5536 Saying, G3004 Give G1325 me also G2504 this G5026 power, G1849 that G2443 on G2007 whomsoever G3739 G1437 I lay G2007 hands, G5495 he may receive G2983 the Holy G40 Ghost. G4151 But G1161 Peter G4074 said G2036 unto G4314 him, G846 Thy G4675 money G694 perish G1498 G1519 G684 with G4862 thee, G4671 because G3754 thou hast thought G3543 that the gift G1431 of God G2316 may be purchased G2932 with G1223 money. G5536 Thou G4671 hast G2076 neither G3756 part G3310 nor G3761 lot G2819 in G1722 this G5129 matter: G3056 for G1063 thy G4675 heart G2588 is G2076 not G3756 right G2117 in the sight G1799 of God. G2316 Repent G3340 therefore G3767 of G575 this G5026 thy G4675 wickedness, G2549 and G2532 pray G1189 God, G2316 if G1487 perhaps G686 the thought G1963 of thine G4675 heart G2588 may be forgiven G863 thee. G4671 For G1063 I perceive G3708 that thou G4571 art G5607 in G1519 the gall G5521 of bitterness, G4088 and G2532 in the bond G4886 of iniquity. G93 Then G1161 answered G611 Simon, G4613 and said, G2036 Pray G1189 ye G5210 to G4314 the Lord G2962 for G5228 me, G1700 that G3704 none of these things G3367 which G3739 ye have spoken G2046 come G1904 upon G1909 me. G1691 And they, when G3303 G3767 they had testified G1263 and G2532 preached G2980 the word G3056 of the Lord, G2962 returned G5290 to G1519 Jerusalem, G2419 and G5037 preached the gospel G2097 in many G4183 villages G2968 of the Samaritans. G4541 And G1161 the angel G32 of the Lord G2962 spake G2980 unto G4314 Philip, G5376 saying, G3004 Arise, G450 and G2532 go G4198 toward G2596 the south G3314 unto G1909 the way G3598 that goeth down G2597 from G575 Jerusalem G2419 unto G1519 Gaza, G1048 which G3778 is G2076 desert. G2048 And G2532 he arose G450 and went: G4198 and, G2532 behold, G2400 a man G435 of Ethiopia, G128 an eunuch G2135 of great authority G1413 under Candace G2582 queen G938 of the Ethiopians, G128 who G3739 had G2258 the charge of G1909 all G3956 her G846 treasure, G1047 and G3739 had come G2064 to G1519 Jerusalem G2419 for to worship, G4352 G5037 Was G2258 returning, G5290 and G2532 sitting G2521 in G1909 his G846 chariot G716 G2532 read G314 Esaias G2268 the prophet. G4396 Then G1161 the Spirit G4151 said G2036 unto Philip, G5376 Go near, G4334 and G2532 join thyself to G2853 this G5129 chariot. G716 And G1161 Philip G5376 ran G4370 thither to him, and heard G191 him G846 read G314 the prophet G4396 Esaias, G2268 and G2532 said, G2036 Understandest thou G687 G1065 G1097 what G3739 thou readest? G314 And G1161 he said, G2036 How G1063 G4459 can I, G302 G1410 except G3362 some man G5100 should guide G3594 me? G3165 And G5037 he desired G3870 Philip G5376 that he would come up G305 and sit G2523 with G4862 him. G846 G1161 The place G4042 of the scripture G1124 which G3739 he read G314 was G2258 this, G3778 He was led G71 as G5613 a sheep G4263 to G1909 the slaughter; G4967 and G2532 like G5613 a lamb G286 dumb G880 before G1726 his G846 shearer, G2751 so G3779 opened he G455 not G3756 his G846 mouth: G4750 In G1722 his G846 humiliation G5014 his G846 judgment G2920 was taken away: G142 and G1161 who G5101 shall declare G1334 his G846 generation? G1074 for G3754 his G846 life G2222 is taken G142 from G575 the earth. G1093 And G1161 the eunuch G2135 answered G611 Philip, G5376 and said, G2036 I pray G1189 thee, G4675 of G4012 whom G5101 speaketh G3004 the prophet G4396 this? G5124 of G4012 himself, G1438 or G2228 of G4012 some G5100 other man? G2087 Then G1161 Philip G5376 opened G455 his G846 mouth, G4750 and G2532 began G756 at G575 the same G5026 scripture, G1124 and preached G2097 unto him G846 Jesus. G2424 And G1161 as G5613 they went G4198 on G2596 their way, G3598 they came G2064 unto G1909 a certain G5100 water: G5204 and G2532 the eunuch G2135 said, G5346 See, G2400 here is water; G5204 what G5101 doth hinder G2967 me G3165 to be baptized? G907 And G1161 Philip G5376 said, G2036 If G1487 thou believest G4100 with G1537 all thine G3650 heart, G2588 thou mayest. G1832 And G1161 he answered G611 and said, G2036 I believe G4100 that Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 is G1511 the Son G5207 of God. G2316 And G2532 he commanded G2753 the chariot G716 to stand still: G2476 and G2532 they went down G2597 both G297 into G1519 the water, G5204 both G5037 Philip G5376 and G2532 the eunuch; G2135 and G2532 he baptized G907 him. G846 And G1161 when G3753 they were come up G305 out of G1537 the water, G5204 the Spirit G4151 of the Lord G2962 caught away G726 Philip, G5376 G2532 that the eunuch G2135 saw G1492 G3756 him G846 no more: G3765 and G1063 he went G4198 on his G846 way G3598 rejoicing. G5463 But G1161 Philip G5376 was found G2147 at G1519 Azotus: G108 and G2532 passing G1330 through he preached G2097 in all G3956 the cities, G4172 till G2193 he G846 came G2064 to G1519 Caesarea. G2542
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Acts 6
Commentary on Acts 6 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 6
Ac 6:1-7. First Election of Deacons.
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 love, each party wishing to have their own poor taken care of in the best manner" [Olshausen].
the daily ministration—the daily distribution of alms or of food, probably the latter.
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.
3. look ye out among you—that is, ye, "the multitude," from among yourselves.
seven men of honest report—good reputation (Ac 10:22; 1Ti 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 with the apostles, as spiritual rulers.
4. we will give ourselves to prayer—public prayer, as along with preaching their great work.
5. Stephen, &c.—As this and the following names are all Greek, it is likely they were all of the "Grecian" class, which would effectually restore mutual confidence.
6. when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them—the one proclaiming that all official gifts flowed from the Church's glorified Head, the other symbolizing the communication of these to the chosen office-bearers through the recognized channels.
7. word of God increased … disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly—prosperity crowning the beautiful spirit which reigned in this mother community.
a great company of the priests were obedient, &c.—This was the crowning triumph of the Gospel, whose peaceful prosperity was now at its greatest height. After Stephen's teaching and trial made it clear that sacerdotal interests could not stand with the Gospel, such priestly accessions became rare indeed. Note (1) how easily misunderstandings may arise among the most loving and devoted followers of the Lord Jesus: but (2) How quickly and effectually such misunderstandings may be healed, where honest intentions, love, and wisdom reign: (3) What a beautiful model for imitation is furnished by the class here complained of, who, though themselves the majority, chose the new office-bearers from amongst the complaining minority! (4) How superior to the lust of power do the apostles here show themselves to be, in not only divesting themselves of the immediate superintendence of temporal affairs in the Christian community, but giving the choice of those who were to be entrusted with it to the disciples at large! (5) How little of formal organization did the apostles give to the Church at first, and when an emergency arose which demanded something more, how entirely was the remedy suggested by the reason of the thing! (6) Though the new office-bearers are not expressly called Deacons here, it is universally admitted that this was the first institution of that order in the Church; the success of the expedient securing its permanency, and the qualifications for "the office of a Deacon" being laid down in one of the apostolical Epistles immediately after those of "a Bishop" (1Ti 3:8-13).
Ac 6:8-15. Stephen Arraigned before the Sanhedrin.
8. And Stephen, &c.—The foregoing narrative seems to be only an introduction to what follows.
full of faith—rather, "of grace," as the best manuscripts read.
9, 10. synagogue of the Libertines—Jewish freedmen; manumitted Roman captives, or the children of such, expelled from Rome (as appears from Josephus and Tacitus), and now residing at Jerusalem.
Cyrenians—Jews of Cyrene, in Libya, on the coast of Africa.
them of Cilicia—amongst whom may have been Saul of Tarsus (Ac 7:58; 21:39).
and of Asia—(See on Ac 16:6).
10. not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake—What he said, and the power with which he spake it, were alike resistless.
11-14. blasphemous words against Moses—doubtless referring to the impending disappearance of the whole Mosaic system.
and against God—This must refer to the supreme dignity and authority which he claimed for Christ, as the head of that new economy which was so speedily to supersede the old (compare Ac 7:56, 59, 60).
15. as … the face of an angel—a play of supernatural radiance attesting to all who beheld his countenance the divine calm of the spirit within.