Acts 6:3

Acts 6:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
• New International Version (NIV)Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them
• English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;

Context of Acts 6:3

1In 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. 2So the Twelve summoned all the disciples and said, “It is unacceptable for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will assign this responsibility to them 4and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.

Acts 6:3 word by word

ἐπισκέψασθε δέ, ἀδελφοί, ἄνδρας ἐξ ὑμῶν μαρτυρουμένους ἑπτὰ πλήρεις πνεύματος καὶ σοφίας οὓς καταστήσομεν ἐπὶ τῆς χρείας ταύτης·Read the interlinear

• Thereforeδέde · thenG1161
• brothersἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• selectἐπισκέπτομαιepiskeptomai · to visit/care forG1980
• fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• among youσύsu · youG4771
• sevenἑπτάhepta · sevenG2033
• menἀνήρanēr · manG435
• confirmed to beμαρτυρέωmartureō · to testifyG3140
• fullπλήρηςplērēs · fullG4134
• of the Spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• wisdomσοφίαsophia · wisdomG4678
• We will assignκαθίστημιkathistēmi · to appoint/conductG2525
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• ·ἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• responsibilityχρείαchreia · needG5532
• ·ὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739

Cross-references for Acts 6:3

• Acts 9:30When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
• Acts 15:23and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.
• Matthew 23:8But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.
• 1 John 3:14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death.
• Acts 1:21Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
• Numbers 11:16Then the LORD said to Moses, “Bring Me seventy of the elders of Israel known to you as leaders and officers of the people. Bring them to the Tent of Meeting and have them stand there with you.
• Deuteronomy 1:13Choose for yourselves wise, understanding, and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will appoint them as your leaders.”
• 1 Corinthians 16:3Then, on my arrival, I will send letters with those you recommend to carry your gift to Jerusalem.
• 2 Corinthians 8:19More than that, this brother was chosen by the churches to accompany us with the gracious offering we administer to honor the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.
• Acts 10:22“Cornelius the centurion has sent us,” they said. “He is a righteous and God-fearing man with a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation. A holy angel instructed him to request your presence in his home so he could hear a message from you.”
• Acts 16:2The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.
• Acts 22:12There a man named Ananias, a devout observer of the law who was highly regarded by all the Jews living there,
• 1 Timothy 3:7Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.
• 1 Timothy 5:10and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.
• 3 John 1:12Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true.
• Acts 2:4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Commentaries on Acts 6:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Wherefore - look ye out among you seven men - Choose persons in whom ye can all confide, who will distribute the provisions impartially, and in due time; and let these persons be the objects of the choice both of the Hebrews and Hellenists, that all cause of murmuring and discontent may be done away. Though seven was a sacred number among the Jews, yet there does not appear to be any mystery intended here. Probably the seven men were to take each his day…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Look 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…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 6:3

• Alms
• Beneficence
• Church
• Deacon
• Holy Spirit
• Minister, Christian
• Seven
• Stephen

In the dictionaries

• Holy Ghost
• Brother
• Catch
• Deacon
• Honest
• Ministration
• Nicanor
• Stephen
• Widows
• Acts of the Apostles

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