Actschapter 6
15 verses · Luke · about AD 62 · Acts
In those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Grecian Jews among them began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
Introduction
Luke, Acts, Acts Overview.
Luke wrote this chapter for Theophilus, and it opens on a complaint inside the church. The believers now spoke two languages, and one group felt its widows were being passed over. The chapter shows how the apostles answered it and what came of that answer. Listen for the names of the seven chosen men, since every one of them is Greek. Notice also the short report of growth that follows, one of several in the book. The chapter then turns to one of the seven, and his story fills the next chapter.
Context
- Who
- Theophilus and Gentile readers, meeting the Greek-speaking wing of the church that would carry the gospel outward.
- What
- The appointment of seven men to care for the church's widows and the arrest of Stephen on false charges.
- Where
- Jerusalem, among the believers and in the synagogue of the Freedmen, then before the council.
- When
- The early years of the Jerusalem church, about AD 31 to 34.
- Why
- To show how the church met a division in its own life and how the charge that would drive it out of Jerusalem began.
Historical context
Jerusalem held two kinds of Jews: those born locally who spoke Aramaic, and "Hellenists", Jews raised abroad in Greek-speaking cities who had come back to live near the temple, often in old age. They had their own synagogues and their own language, and they were outsiders in their own holy city.
Show the rest of the historical context, 3 more paragraphs
A widow without a son had no income at all. Jewish charity ran a daily food dole and a weekly basket for the poor, and Luke's word for the complaint is about that daily table. Foreign-born widows were being overlooked, a classic case of the local majority looking after its own first.
The solution reads like a small piece of civic organization: the whole body chooses seven trusted men, and the apostles lay hands on them. Every one of the seven names is Greek. The church handed the complaint to the group that had raised it.
The "Synagogue of the Freedmen" was a congregation of former slaves and their descendants, likely Jews taken to Rome as captives and later freed. Men from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia met there, which is how a young man from Tarsus in Cilicia comes into the story.
Significance
The first readers learned that the church's answer to injustice inside its own ranks was structure, not silence. Feeding widows was treated as important enough to need appointed men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom.
Show the rest of the significance, 1 more paragraph
It also set up what follows. Stephen, appointed to wait tables, turns out to be the sharpest debater in Jerusalem, and the charge brought against him, that he spoke against the temple and the Law, is the accusation that will drive the gospel out of the city.
The heads below are this chapter's scenes. The numbered points under each are its verses.
Seven Chosen to Serve the Neglected Widows
Acts 6:1-2
the Grecian Jews among them: As the disciples increased, the Grecian Jews, Greek speakers, grumbled against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked. Growth had outrun the apostles' oversight of the church's charity.
Acts 6:1
“They were so called, because they used the Greek as their other tongue. In this partiality of the Hebrews, and murmuring of the Hellenists, were the needs of a general persecution sown. Did God ever, in any age or country, withdraw his restraining providence, and let loose the world upon the Christians, till there was a cause among themselves?”
John Wesley · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)evangelical
1 more voice on this verseWhat preachers and commentators have said about this verse, in their own words.
Acts 6:1
“In those days ... - The first part of this chapter contains an account of the appointment of “deacons.” It may be asked, perhaps, why the apostles did not appoint these officers at the first organization of the church? To this, question we may reply, that it was better to defer the appointment until an occasion should occur when it would appear to be manifestly necessary and proper.”
to wait on tables: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown note that the Greek word expresses strong dislike, marking preaching as the apostles' first duty. Henry cites a Latin line that the mind cannot hold two anxious tasks, though he grants serving tables was also serving Christ. Clarke adds that others could provide the daily bread.
Acts 6:2
“It is not reason - Ουκ αρεστον εστι, it is not pleasing, proper, or fitting, that we should leave the word of God, that we should give up ourselves, or confide to others, the doctrine of salvation which God has commanded us to preach unto the people. And serve tables - Become providers of daily bread for your widows and poor: others can do this, to whom our important office is not intrusted.”
Adam Clarke · Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
2 more voices on this verse
Acts 6:2
“Pectora nostra duas non admittentia curas--These minds of ours admit not of two distinct anxious employments. Though this serving of tables was for pious uses, and serving the charity of rich Christians and the necessity of poor Christians, and in both serving Christ, yet the apostles would not take so much time from their preaching as this would require.”
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
Acts 6:2
“And whatever time they had to spare from this, they employed in works of spiritual mercy. But their proper office was, to take care of the poor. And when some of them afterward preached the Gospel, they did this not by virtue of their deaconship, but of another commission, that of evangelists, which they probably received, not before, but after they were appointed deacons.”
John Wesley · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)evangelical
Acts 6:3-4
select from among you seven men: The apostles ask for seven men full of the Spirit and wisdom. Character and the Spirit's fullness are named before any practical skill, since serving tables still required the Spirit's wisdom.
Acts 6:3
“Look ye out - Select, or choose. As this was a matter pertaining to their own pecuniary affairs, it was proper that “they” should be permitted to choose such men as they could confide in. By this means the apostles would be free from all suspicions. It could not be pretended that “they” were partial, nor could it ever be charged on them that they wished to embezzle the funds by managing them themselves, or by entrusting them to men of their own selection.”
3 more voices on this verse
Acts 6:3
“Of good report - That there may be no room to suspect them of partiality or injustice. Full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom - For it is not a light matter to dispense even the temporal goods of the Church. To do even this well, a large measure both of the gifts and grace of God is requisite.”
John Wesley · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)evangelical
Acts 6:3
“Wherefore brethren look ye out among you,.... Or "choose out among you", as the Syriac version adds, and as the Arabic and Ethiopic versions render it; which shows that this sort of officers, deacons, must be members of the church, and of the same church to which they are ordained deacons; and that they must be chosen to that office by the whole community, or by the common suffrages and votes of the people.”
Acts 6:3
“Note, Those that are employed in any office in the church ought to be men of honest report, of a blameless, nay, of an admirable character, which is requisite not only to the credit of their office, but to the due discharge of it.”
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
Henry calls the word and prayer the two great gospel ordinances: God speaks by the one, and His people speak by the other. Barnes leans toward public prayer because it stands beside preaching, while Gill includes private prayer too. Clarke adds that even apostles could not live without prayer.
Acts 6:4
“We will give ourselves continually to prayer - Προσκαρτερησομεν, We will steadfastly and invariably attend, we will carefully keep our hearts to this work. The word is very emphatic. To prayer. - See this defined, Mat 6:5 (note). Even apostles could not live without prayer; they had no independent graces; what they had could not be retained without an increase; and for this increase they must make prayer and supplication, depending continually on their God. Ministry of the word - Διακονιᾳ του λογου, The deaconship of the word.”
Adam Clarke · Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
1 more voice on this verse
Acts 6:4
“We will constantly attend to prayer, and to the ministry of the word - This is doubtless the proper business of a Christian bishop: to speak to God in prayer; to men in preaching his word, as an ambassador for Christ.”
John Wesley · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)evangelical
Acts 6:5-6
This proposal pleased the whole group: All seven chosen carry Greek names, so men from the group whose widows had been overlooked are placed in trust. Nicolas is named a convert to Judaism, a Gentile before he was a Jew, the circle widening before Cornelius.
Acts 6:5
“The first named is Stephen, the glory of these septemviri, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost; he had a strong faith in the doctrine of Christ, and was full of it above most; full of fidelity, full of courage (so some), for he was full of the Holy Ghost, of his gifts and graces.”
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
4 more voices on this verse
Acts 6:5
“And the saying - “The word” - the counsel, or command, And they chose Stephen ... - A man who soon showed Acts 7 that he was in every way qualified for his office, and also suited to defend the cause of the Lord Jesus. This man had the distinguished honor of being the first Christian martyr. And Nicolas - From this man some of the fathers (Iren., lib. 1:27; Epiphanius, 1; Haeres., 5) says that the sect of the “Nicolaitanes,” mentioned with so much disapprobation Rev 2:6, Rev 2:15, took their rise.”
Acts 6:5
“Luke also has recorded that Stephen, who was the first elected into the diaconate by the apostles, and who was the first slain for the testimony of Christ, spoke regarding Moses as follows: "This man did indeed receive the commandments of the living God to give to us, whom your fathers would not obey, but thrust [Him from them], and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us; for we do not know what has happened to [this] Moses, who led us from the land of Egypt.”
Irenaeus · written before 202 · Against Heresies Book 4.15.1patristic
Acts 6:5
“Such also are those who say that they follow Nicolaus, quoting an adage of the man, which they pervert, "that the flesh must be abused." But the worthy man showed that it was necessary to check pleasures and lusts, and by such training to waste away the impulses and propensities of the flesh.”
Clement of Alexandria · written before 215 · The Stromata Book 2patristic
Acts 6:5
“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.”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
prayed and laid their hands: Albert Barnes explains that Jews laid hands on those set apart for an office, as a sign of where their authority came from. Chrysostom holds that the whole work is God's, whose hand touches the head of the one ordained. Luke gives no details of the rite, Theophylact notes.
Acts 6:6
“And when they had prayed - Instead of και, and, the Codex Bezae reads οἱτινες, who, referring the act of praying to the apostles, which removes a sort of ambiguity. The apostles prayed for these persons, that they might in every respect be qualified for their office, and be made successful in it. And, when they had done this, they laid their hands upon them, and by this rite appointed them to their office.”
Adam Clarke · Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
2 more voices on this verse
Acts 6:6
“Whom they set before the apostles,.... They did not barely nominate and propose them to them, but they brought them into their presence, and placed them before them, as the persons whom they had chosen, in order to be ordained by them.”
Acts 6:6
“Having by prayer implored a blessing upon them, they did by the laying on of hands assure them that the blessing was conferred in answer to the prayer; and this was giving them authority to execute that office, and laying an obligation upon the people to be observant of them therein.”
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
the word of God continued: This is the first of six growth notices that close the sections of Acts. It adds that a great number of priests became obedient to the faith, so the message reached the order most bound to the temple.
Acts 6:7
“And the word of God increased - That is, the gospel was more and more successful, or became more mighty and extensive in its influence. An instance of this success is immediately added. And a great company of the priests - A great “multitude.” This is recorded justly as a remarkable instance of the power of the gospel. How great this company was is not mentioned, but the number of the priests in Jerusalem was very great; and their conversion was a striking proof of the power of truth.”
1 more voice on this verse
Acts 6:7
“CERTAIN things preceded this prosperity—the counterpart of which I verily believe we have experienced among ourselves. There had been a little trouble in the church; some had thought one thing, some had thought another. There appeared to have been a just cause for complaint. The apostles, conciliatory in their temper, and earnest in their endeavour to keep the church together, as all true ministers should be, proposed the election of seven men who should distribute the contributions impartially among the poor.”
Stephen's Wisdom and a Face Like an Angel's
full of grace and power: Stephen, chosen for the table service, performs great wonders and signs among the people, the signs that had marked the apostles. His qualification in verse 3 was the Spirit's fullness, and that fullness carries him from administration into signs.
Acts 6:8
“Stephen, full of faith and power - Instead of πιϚεως, faith, χαριτος, grace, is the reading of ABD, several others, the Syriac of Erpen, the Coptic, Armenian, Vulgate, and some of the fathers. This reading Griesbach has admitted into the text. Some MSS. join both readings.”
Adam Clarke · Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
1 more voice on this verse
Acts 6:8
“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.”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
Acts 6:9-10
resistance arose from what was called: Opposition rises from the Synagogue of the Freedmen, Jews of the dispersion from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia and Asia. Saul of Tarsus was a native of Cilicia, which may place him in this congregation.
Acts 6:9
“There arose certain of the synagogue which is called - It was one and the same synagogue which consisted of these several nations. Saul of Cilicia was doubtless a member of it; whence it is not at all improbable, that Gamaliel presided over it.”
John Wesley · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)evangelical
2 more voices on this verse
Acts 6:9
“Then there arose - That is, they stood up against him, or they opposed him. Of the synagogue - See the notes on Mat 4:23. The Jews were scattered in all parts of the world. In every place they would have synagogues. But it is also probable that there would be enough foreign Jews residing at Jerusalem from each of those places to maintain the worship of the synagogue; and at the great feasts, those synagogues adapted to Jewish people of different nations would be attended by those who came up to attend the great feasts.”
Acts 6:9
“Some historians say that Stephen had been bred up at the feet of Gamaliel, and that Saul and the rest of them set upon him as a deserter, and with a particular fury made him their mark. (4.) It is probable that they disputed with Stephen because he was zealous to argue with them and convince them, and this was the service to which God had called him.”
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
his wisdom or the Spirit: Henry sees here the fulfillment of Jesus' promise in Luke 21 of words and wisdom that no adversary could resist. Clarke takes the Spirit to be the Holy Spirit, while Barnes reads it as Stephen's own zeal and energy. Chrysostom notes that defeat in argument led to false witnesses.
Acts 6:10
“It is not said, They were not able to resist him, but, They were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke, that Spirit of wisdom which spoke by him. Now was fulfilled that promise, I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist, Luke xxi.”
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
1 more voice on this verse
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 genuine, though it exists (but in different forms) in some good MSS.”
Adam Clarke · Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
Acts 6:11-12
they prompted some men: They prompted men to accuse Stephen of blasphemy against Moses and God, the tactic of procured false witness used against Jesus. The move from argument to conspiracy shows the opposition had no answer left but force.
Acts 6:11
“Then they suborned men,.... Hired false witnesses, which seems to have been commonly done by the Jews; so they did in the case of Christ: which said, we have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God; that is, against the law of Moses, and so against God, who gave the law to Moses, as appears from Act 6:13 the blasphemous words seem to be, with respect to the ceremonial law, and the abrogation of it, which Stephen might insist upon, and they charged with blasphemy; see Act 6:14.”
1 more voice on this verse
Acts 6:11
“Then they suborned men - To suborn in law means to procure a person to take such a false oath as constitutes perjury (Webster). It has substantially this sense here. It means that they induced them to declare what was false, or to bring a false accusation against him. This was done, not by declaring a palpable and open falsehood, but by “perverting” his doctrines, and by stating their own “inferences” as what he had actually maintained - the common way in which people oppose doctrines from which they differ.”
they stirred up the people: Clarke describes a mob raised by the Synagogue of the Freedmen, with the elders and scribes lending it their countenance. Barnes notes that the people were stirred the same way before the death of Jesus (Matthew 27:20). Chrysostom asks how a blasphemer could have worked such miracles.
Acts 6:12
“And they - The Libertines, etc., mentioned before, stirred up the people - raised a mob against him, and, to assist and countenance the mob, got the elders and scribes to conduct it, who thus made themselves one with the basest of the people, whom they collected; and then, altogether, without law or form of justice, rushed on the good man, seized him, and brought him to a council who, though they sat in the seat of judgment, were ready for every evil work.”
Adam Clarke · Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
1 more voice on this verse
Acts 6:12
“Having caught him, they brought him triumphantly into the council, and, as it should seem, so hastily that he had none of his friends with him. They had found, when they brought many together, that they emboldened one another, and strengthened one another's hands; and therefore they will try how to deal with them singly.”
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
Acts 6:13-14
where they presented false witnesses: The false witnesses accuse Stephen of saying Jesus will destroy this place and change the customs of Moses. The charge distorts what Jesus taught of the temple's destruction, and the same charge had been brought at His own trial (Mark 14:58).
Acts 6:13
“And set up false witnesses - It has been made a question why these persons are called “false” witnesses, since it is supposed by many that they reported merely the “words” of Stephen. It may be replied that if they did report merely his “words”; if Stephen had actually said what they affirmed, yet they perverted his meaning. They accused him of “blasphemy”; that is, of calumnious and reproachful words against Moses and against God That Stephen had spoken in such a manner, or had designed to “reproach” Moses, there is no evidence.”
change the customs that Moses: Albert Barnes explains that the customs were the ceremonial rites Moses appointed, such as sacrifices and festivals. Matthew Henry answers the charge: Christ and His preachers always quoted Moses with respect and taught only what Moses said would come. Henry calls the indictment unjust.
Acts 6:14
“Shall change - Shall abolish them, or shall introduce others in their place. The customs - The ceremonial rites and observances of sacrifices, festivals, etc., appointed by Moses.”
1 more voice on this verse
Acts 6:14
“But did Stephen blaspheme Moses? By no means, he was far from it. Christ, and the preachers of his gospel, never said any thing that looked like blaspheming Moses; they always quoted his writings with respect, appealed to them, and said no other things than what Moses said should come; very unjustly therefore is Stephen indicted for blaspheming Moses.”
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
the face of an angel: Stephen's face was like the face of an angel, recalling Moses's shining face at Sinai in Exodus 34:29 to 35. He was charged with speaking against Moses, and his face answers the charge before he opens his mouth.
Acts 6:15
“And all that sat in the council,.... The whole sanhedrim, looking steadfastly on him; to observe whether his countenance altered, his tongue stammered, or he trembled in any part of his body, neither of which appeared; but on the contrary, they saw his face, as if it had been the face of an angel.”
3 more voices on this verse
Acts 6:15
“Looking stedfastly on him - Fixing the eyes intently on him. They were probably attracted by the unusual appearance of the man, his meekness, his calm and collected fearlessness, and the proofs of conscious innocence and sincerity. The face of an angel - This expression is one evidently denoting that he manifested evidence of sincerity, gravity, fearlessness, confidence in God. It is used in the Old Testament to denote special wisdom, 2Sa 14:17; 2Sa 19:27. In Gen 33:10, it is used to denote special majesty and glory, as if it were the face of God.”
Acts 6:15
“But he was Moses still, even when he was not visible. So also Stephen had already put on the appearance of an angel, although they were none other than his human knees which bent beneath the stoning.”
Tertullian · written before 220 · On the Resurrection of the Fleshpatristic
Acts 6:15
“As the face of an angel - Covered with supernatural lustre. They reckoned his preaching of Jesus to be the Christ was destroying Moses and the law; and God bears witness to him, with the same glory as he did to Moses, when he gave the law by him.”
John Wesley · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)evangelical
How this psalm is built
The form: Two scenes joined by a report of growth, the Seven appointed to serve and Stephen brought before the council, as 6 classes it.
The patterns in this chapter
| Device | What it does | Where to see it |
|---|---|---|
| Full of the Spirit | The words full of mark the men of this chapter three times. The Seven must be full of the Spirit and wisdom in verse 3. Stephen is full of faith and of the Holy Spirit in verse 5, and full of grace and power in verse 8. Adam Clarke and Jamieson, Fausset and Brown note that the best manuscripts read grace in verse 8, and the Berean text follows that reading. Verse 10 adds that his opponents could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.Counted from the Berean Standard Bible text of Acts 6, The chapter's own text, verses 3 to 10. | Acts 6:3, Acts 6:5, Acts 6:8, Acts 6:10 |
| A report of growth between the scenes | Verse 7 closes the first scene with a summary. The word of God continued to spread, the number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith. Albert Barnes calls the conversion of the priests a remarkable instance of the power of the gospel. The next verse turns to Stephen and the opposition he met.Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869). | Acts 6:7 |
| The charge grows | The charge against Stephen is stated three times, and it grows each time. In verse 11 the men say they heard him speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God. In verse 13 the false witnesses speak against this holy place and against the law, and in verse 14 they add that Jesus would destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down. John Chrysostom points to the added words about the customs of Moses and says the accusers named Moses in place of God.John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 15. | Acts 6:11, Acts 6:13, Acts 6:14 |
How this chapter is built
1 more paragraph on the patterns
Acts 6 has two scenes and a summary between them. Verses 1 to 6 tell of a complaint, a proposal from the Twelve, a choice made by the whole group and the laying on of hands. Verse 7 reports the spread of the word. Verses 8 to 15 bring Stephen forward, first doing great wonders and signs, then arguing with men from the Synagogue of the Freedmen, then seized and set before the Sanhedrin. The chapter ends with the council looking at his face, which was like the face of an angel, and his speech fills the next chapter.
Keep studying
Sources for this chapter
The summary
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary.
The form and classifications
Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869) and Counted from the Berean Standard Bible text of Acts 6, The chapter's own text, verses 1 to 15.
The exposition
Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes; Bede, On the Acts of the Apostles; J. A. Alexander, The Acts of the Apostles Explained; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom; John Gill; John Lightfoot, Horae Hebraicae et Talmudicae; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.