Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Acts » Chapter 6 » Verse 9-15

Acts 6:9-15 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

9 Then G1161 there arose G450 certain G5100 of G1537 the synagogue, G4864 which G3588 is called G3004 the synagogue of the Libertines, G3032 and G2532 Cyrenians, G2956 and G2532 Alexandrians, G221 and G2532 of them of G575 Cilicia G2791 and G2532 of Asia, G773 disputing G4802 with Stephen. G4736

10 And G2532 they were G2480 not G3756 able G2480 to resist G436 the wisdom G4678 and G2532 the spirit G4151 by which G3739 he spake. G2980

11 Then G5119 they suborned G5260 men, G435 which said, G3004 G3754 We have heard G191 him G846 speak G2980 blasphemous G989 words G4487 against G1519 Moses, G3475 and G2532 against God. G2316

12 And G5037 they stirred up G4787 the people, G2992 and G2532 the elders, G4245 and G2532 the scribes, G1122 and G2532 came upon G2186 him, and caught G4884 him, G846 and G2532 brought G71 him to G1519 the council, G4892

13 And G5037 set up G2476 false G5571 witnesses, G3144 which said, G3004 This G5127 man G444 ceaseth G3973 not G3756 to speak G2980 blasphemous G989 words G4487 against G2596 this G3778 holy G40 place, G5117 and G2532 the law: G3551

14 For G1063 we have heard G191 him G846 say, G3004 that G3754 this G5126 Jesus G2424 of Nazareth G3480 shall destroy G2647 this G3778 place, G5117 and G2532 shall change G236 the customs G1485 which G3739 Moses G3475 delivered G3860 us. G2254

15 And G2532 all G537 that sat G2516 in G1722 the council, G4892 looking stedfastly G816 on G1519 him, G846 saw G1492 his G846 face G4383 as it had been G5616 the face G4383 of an angel. G32

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.