Amplified Bible
Acts 6:2
2So the Twelve called the disciples together and said, “It is not appropriate for us to neglect [teaching] the word of God in order to serve tables and manage the distribution of food.
Acts 6:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
- New International Version (NIV)So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.
Context of Acts 6:2
1Now about this time, when the number of disciples was increasing, a complaint was made by the Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews) against the [native] Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. So the Twelve called the disciples together and said, “It is not appropriate for us to neglect [teaching] the word of God in order to serve tables and manage the distribution of food. 3Therefore, brothers, choose from among you seven men with good reputations [men of godly character and moral integrity], full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. 4But we will [continue to] devote ourselves [steadfastly] to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
Read all of Acts 6Acts 6:2 word by word
προσκαλεσάμενοι δὲ οἱ δώδεκα τὸ πλῆθος τῶν μαθητῶν εἶπαν· οὐκ ἀρεστόν ἐστιν ἡμᾶς καταλείψαντας τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ διακονεῖν τραπέζαις.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Thenδέde · thenG1161
- the twelveδώδεκαdōdeka · twelveG1427
- calledπροσκαλέωproskaleomai · to call to/summonG4341
- the multitudeπλῆθοςplēthos · multitudeG4128
- of the disciplesμαθητήςmathētēs · discipleG3101
- saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- It isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- notοὐou · noG3756
- reasonἀρεστόςarestos · pleasingG701
- thatκαταλείπωkataleipō · to leave behindG2641
- weἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- the wordλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- serveδιακονέωdiakoneō · to serveG1247
- tablesτράπεζαtrapeza · tableG5132
Cross-references for Acts 6:2
- Acts 21:22What then should be done? They will certainly hear that you have arrived.
- Acts 4:19But Peter and John replied to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you and obey you rather than God, you must judge [for yourselves];
- Acts 25:27For it seems absurd and unreasonable to me to send a prisoner [to Rome] without indicating the charges against him.”
- Exodus 18:17Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good.
- Numbers 11:11So Moses said to the Lord, “Why have You been so hard on Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have placed the burden of all these people on me?
- Deuteronomy 1:9“I spoke to you at that time, saying, ‘I am not able to bear the burden of you alone.
- Nehemiah 6:3So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave to come down to [meet with] you?”
- 2 Timothy 2:4No soldier in active service gets entangled in the [ordinary business] affairs of civilian life; [he avoids them] so that he may please the one who enlisted him to serve.
Commentaries on Acts 6:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2It is not reason - , 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.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Then the twelve - That is, the apostles. Matthias had been added to them after the apostasy of Judas, which had completed the original number. The multitude of the disciples - It is not necessary to suppose that all the disciples were convened, which amounted to many thousands, but that the business was laid before a large number; or perhaps “the multitude” here means those merely who were more particularly interested in the matter, and who had been…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-6The apostles showed wisdom by calling a meeting of all the Christians to resolve the dispute. They understood that the problem was very serious. They also knew their priority was teaching God's word. They decided to choose men who were wise and filled with the Holy Spirit to manage the food distribution. The community agreed with the plan the apostles proposed. They selected capable leaders from the Christians who spoke Greek (all of their names are…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-42-4. 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.Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 6:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Acts 6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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