Acts 6:4
in Acts 6and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But we will continue stedfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word.
KJV
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
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This verse in Acts 6
Commentary
11 notes on this verseWe 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.
This site's exposition
select from among you seven men
on Acts 6:3-4
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.
This site's exposition
the ministry of the word
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.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
A commentator
Philoxenus of Mabbug13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 11 -- On Abstinence · Written before 523.
proposed
And again the Apostles said when they wished to choose seven deacons, "We will continue steadfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word."
"But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word." Again they plead for themselves, beginning and ending with this. "Will give ourselves continually," he saith. For so it behooved, not just to do the mere acts, or in any chance way, but to be continually doing them. Thus they were enabled to give their attention to things spiritual; thus were these also free to undertake long journeys; thus were these put in trust with the word.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
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.
): We will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. See here, [1.] What are the two great gospel ordinances-- the word, and prayer; by these two communion between God and his people is kept up and maintained; by the word he speaks to them, and by prayer they speak to him; and these have a mutual reference to each other.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer,.... Both in private for themselves, and the church; and in the houses and families of the saints, with the sick and distressed;. and in public, in the temple, or in whatsoever place they met for public worship: and to the ministry of the word; the preaching of the Gospel, to which prayer is absolutely prerequisite, and with which it is always to be joined.
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
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.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
we will give ourselves to prayer--public prayer, as along with preaching their great work.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
But we will give ourselves continually - The original expression used here denotes “intense and persevering” application to a thing, or unwearied effort in it. See the notes on Act 1:14. It means that the apostles designed to make this their constant and main object, undistracted by the cares of life, and even by attention to the temporal needs of the church. To prayer - Whether this means “private” or “public” prayer cannot be certainly determined. The passage, however, would rather incline us to suppose that the “latter” was meant, as it is immediately connected with preaching. If so, then the phrase denotes that they would give themselves to the duties of their office, one part of which was public prayer, and another preaching. Still it is to be believed that the apostles felt the need of secret prayer, and practiced it, as preparatory to their public preaching. And to the ministry of the word - To preaching the gospel, or communicating the message of eternal life to the world. The word “ministry” διακονία diakonia properly denotes the employment of a “servant,” and is given to the preachers of the gospel because they are employed in this as the “servants” of God and of the church. We have here a view of what the apostles thought to be the proper work of the ministry. They were set apart to this work. It was their main, their only employment. To this their lives were to be devoted, and both by their example and their writings they have shown that it was on this principle they acted. Compare 1Ti 4:15-16; 2Ti 4:2. It follows also that if their time and talents were to be wholly devoted to this work, it was reasonable that they should receive competent support from the churches, and this reasonable claim is often urged. See the 1Co 9:7-14 notes; Gal 6:6 note.
The words behind it
10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἡμεῖς | hemeis | We ourselves | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τῇ | tea | in the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| προσευχῇ | proseuchea | prayer | G4335 → | 35 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τῇ | tea | in the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| διακονίᾳ | diakonia | ministry | G1248 → | 34 times |
| τοῦ | tou | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λόγου | logou | word | G3056 → | 329 times |
| προσκαρτερήσομεν. | proskarteresomen | will steadfastly continue. | G4342 → | 10 times |
ἡμεῖςWe ourselves
hemeisG3165 →1936 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
τῇin the
teaG3588 →19766 times
προσευχῇprayer
proseucheaG4335 →35 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τῇin the
teaG3588 →19766 times
διακονίᾳministry
diakoniaG1248 →34 times
τοῦof the
touG3588 →19766 times
λόγουword
logouG3056 →329 times
προσκαρτερήσομεν.will steadfastly continue.
proskarteresomenG4342 →10 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 2:42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
it leads to
- Hebrews 10:25
Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
- Acts 1:14
With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
- 1 John 1:3
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.
- Acts 2:46
With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart,
- 1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
- Hebrews 10:25
Through
2 Timothy 4:2Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:14
And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.
- 1 Timothy 4:15–16
Be diligent in these matters and absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.
- Revelation 3:19
Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:14
Where this verse is studied
About Acts
This page draws on 9 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); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 14; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Philoxenus of Mabbug, 13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 11 -- On Abstinence.