Acts 6:2

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

1At that time, more and more people became disciples of Jesus. Among the believers, some were Jews who spoke the Greek language. Others were Jews who spoke the Aramaic language. The Jews who spoke Greek had a problem with the other Jews. They said, ‘The widows in our group do not receive the right help. Each day, when you give out the food and money, our widows receive less than they should get.’ The 12 apostles heard about the problem. They told all the believers to meet together with them. The apostles said, ‘Our work is to teach people God's message about Jesus. We do not have time to give out the food and money to people as well. 3So, friends, please choose seven men from among you. You must know that each of them is full of the Holy Spirit. They must also be very wise. We will ask these seven men to do this work for us. 4Then we will have more time to pray. We will also have more time to teach people God's message.’

Acts 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 21:22We need to do something about this problem. These Jewish believers will certainly hear that you are in Jerusalem.
• Acts 4:19Then Peter and John replied to the leaders, ‘What do you think God wants us to do? Should we obey you? Or should we obey God? You decide!
• Acts 25:27I need to tell Caesar what wrong things this man has done. If I cannot do that, it would not be right to send him to Rome.’
• Exodus 18:17Jethro replied, ‘The thing that you are doing is not good.
• Numbers 11:11So Moses said to the Lord, ‘I am your servant. But you have given this problem to me! It seems that you are not pleased with me. You have given to me the hard job to be leader of all these people.
• Deuteronomy 1:9At that time I, Moses, said this to you: ‘I cannot lead you and help you by myself. It is too difficult for me to do alone.
• Nehemiah 6:3So I sent this message back to them: ‘I am too busy to come and meet you. The work here is too important. I cannot stop the work here to come and meet you.’
• 2 Timothy 2:4Any soldier who fights in a war does not become busy with other things. He only wants to fight well to make his captain happy.

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

• Alms
• Beneficence
• Church
• Deacon
• Minister, Christian
• Table

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Word of God
• Catch
• Deacon
• Honest
• Ministration
• Nicanor
• Stephen
• Widows

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