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Acts 6:2
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Seven Chosen to Serve

1 Now in those days, awhen the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the bHellenists, because their widows were neglected cin the daily distribution.  
2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, a“It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.  
3 Therefore, brethren, aseek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this bbusiness;  
4 but we awill give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”  
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, aa man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and bPhilip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and cNicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,  
Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
<< Acts 6:1   Acts 6:3 >>


Acts 6:2

The multitude (to plhqov). The whole church, not just the 120.

Fit (areston). Pleasing, verbal adjective from areskw, to please, old word, but in the N.T. only here and Acts 12:3; John 8:29; I John 3:22. Non placet.

Should forsake (kataleiyantav). Late first aorist active participle for usual second aorist katalipontav from kataleipw, to leave behind.

Serve tables (diakonein trapezaiv). Present active infinitive of diakonew from diakonov (dia and koniv, dust), to raise a dust in a hurry, to serve, to minister either at table (John 12:20), or other service (John 12:25 f.), to serve as deacon (I Timothy 3:10, I Timothy 3:13). "Tables" here hardly means money-tables as in John 2:15, but rather the tables used in the common daily distribution of the food (possibly including the love-feasts, Acts 2:43-47). This word is the same root as diakonia (ministration) in verse Acts 6:1 and diakonov (deacon) in Philippians 1:1; I Timothy 3:8-13. It is more frequently used in the N.T. of ministers (preachers) than of deacons, but it is quite possible, even probable, that the office of deacon as separate from bishop or elder grew out of this incident in Acts 6:1-7. Furneaux is clear that these "seven" are not to be identified with the later "deacons" but why he does not make clear.




Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 6:2:

John 8:29
Acts 6:2
Romans 15:26
Philippians 1:1
1 Timothy 3:10
1 Timothy 5:3
1 Peter 4:11
1 John 3:22

 

<< Acts 6:1   Acts 6:3 >>

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