Christian Standard Bible
Acts 6:2
2The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables.
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
1In those days, as the disciples were increasing in number, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables. 3Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. 4But we will devote ourselves 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 21:22So what is to be done? They will certainly hear that you’ve come.
- Acts 4:19Peter and John answered them, “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide;
- Acts 25:27For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without indicating the charges against him.”
- Exodus 18:17“What you’re doing is not good,” Moses’s father-in-law said to him.
- Numbers 11:11So Moses asked the Lord, “Why have you brought such trouble on your servant? Why are you angry with me, and why do you burden me with all these people?
- Deuteronomy 1:9“I said to you at that time: I can’t bear the responsibility for you on my own.
- Nehemiah 6:3So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing important work and cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?”
- 2 Timothy 2:4No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer.
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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