Acts 6:8
in Acts 6Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And Stephen, full of grace and power, wrought great wonders and signs among the people.
KJV
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
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This verse in Acts 6
Commentary
12 notes on this verseWith the common ordination of the seven having taken place, Stephen obtained the greater grace of choice for the one more suitable for selection. For he who before ordination did not perform marvels, when it was not evident what he was, and when by ordination …
This site's exposition
full of faith and power
Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people, moving beyond the table service he was chosen for into the same signs that had marked the apostles themselves. The bench notes that nothing in his appointment restricted him to administration, since the qualification named in verse three was spiritual fullness rather than a fixed office. His public ministry now draws the opposition the rest of the chapter will describe.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Whence, I pray you, did that grace bloom upon the countenance of Stephen? The writer gives him this report above, that he was "full of faith." For it is possible to have a grace that does not consist in works of healing: "For to one is given the grace of the Spirit in such and such wise." But here, it seems to me, it says that he was also gracious to look at. "Full of faith and of power": which is also the character given of Barnabas "he was a good man, full of faith and of the Holy Ghost." Whence we learn that the sincere and innocent are, above all others, the men to be saved, and that these same are also more gracious.
See how even among the seven one was preeminent, and won the first prize. For though the ordination was common to him and them, yet he drew upon himself greater grace. And observe, how he wrought no signs and wonders before this time, but only when he became publicly known; to show that grace alone is not sufficient, but there must be ordination also; so that there was a further access of the Spirit. For if they were full of the Spirit, it was of that which is from the Laver of Baptism.
The Medieval Church3 voices
Stephen, full of grace and strength, performed great wonders and signs among the people. But some from the synagogue, which was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, etc., arose. Stephen, in Greek, is called Crowned in Latin. He anticipated in his name the reality of …
Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. In Greek it is added: In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I wrote in the previous book that Stephen is interpreted as "crowned," and it is not far …
Look how out of seven one was preferred over the rest: although the ordination was common to all, yet this one acquired greater grace. Turn your gaze also to the fact that before this time he did not work miracles, but began to work miracles …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And Stephen, full of faith and power,.... The historian proceeds to give a narrative of Stephen particularly, the first of the seven deacons; of his faith and miracles, of his elocution and wisdom, of his courage and intrepidity, of his constancy, and of his suffering martyrdom.
He was full of faith and power, that is, of a strong faith, by which he was enabled to do great things. Those that are full of faith are full of power, because by faith the power of God is engaged for us.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
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.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
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.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And Stephen - The remarkable death of this first Christian martyr, which soon occurred, gave occasion to the sacred writer to give a detailed account of his character, and of the causes which led to his death. Hitherto the opposition of the Jews had been confined to threats and imprisonment; but it was now to burst forth with furious rage and madness, that could be satisfied only with blood. This was the first in a series of persecutions against Christians which filled the church with blood, and which closed the lives of thousands, perhaps a million, in the great work of establishing the gospel on the earth. Full of faith - Full of “confidence” in God, or trusting entirely to his promises. See the notes on Mar 16:16. And power - The power which was evinced in working miracles. Wonders - This is one of the words commonly used in the New Testament to denote miracles.
The words behind it
14 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Στέφανος | stephanos | Stephen | G4736 → | 7 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| πλήρης | pleres | full | G4134 → | 16 times |
| χάριτος | charitos | of grace | G5485 → | 153 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| δυνάμεως | dunameos | power | G1411 → | 119 times |
| ἐποίει | epoiei | was performing | G4160 → | 569 times |
| τέρατα | terata | wonders | G5059 → | 16 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| σημεῖα | semeia | signs | G4592 → | 75 times |
| μεγάλα | megala | great | G3173 → | 243 times |
| ἐν | en | among | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λαῷ.¶ | lao | people. | G2992 → | 141 times |
ΣτέφανοςStephen
stephanosG4736 →7 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
πλήρηςfull
pleresG4134 →16 times
χάριτοςof grace
charitosG5485 →153 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
δυνάμεωςpower
dunameosG1411 →119 times
ἐποίειwas performing
epoieiG4160 →569 times
τέραταwonders
terataG5059 →16 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
σημεῖαsigns
semeiaG4592 →75 times
μεγάλαgreat
megalaG3173 →243 times
ἐνamong
enG1722 →2738 times
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
λαῷ.¶people.
laoG2992 →141 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 6:10but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.
it leads to
- Luke 21:15
For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
- 1 Corinthians 2:4
My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,
- Matthew 10:19–20
But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say.
- Luke 12:11–12
When you are brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say.
- John 7:46
“Never has anyone spoken like this man!” the officers answered.
- Luke 21:15
Through
Acts 7:55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
it leads to
- Mark 16:19
After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
- Hebrews 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the…
- Mark 16:19
Through
1 Timothy 3:13For those who have served well as deacons acquire for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
it leads to
- Matthew 25:21
His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’
- Matthew 25:21
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Acts
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Acts; Bede, Retractions on Acts; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 15; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.