Acts 6:1

Acts 6:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
• New International Version (NIV)In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
• New Living Translation (NLT)But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.

Context of Acts 6:1

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2And 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. 3Therefore, 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.

Acts 6:1 word by word

Ἐν δὲ ταῖς ἡμέραις ταύταις πληθυνόντων τῶν μαθητῶν ἐγένετο γογγυσμὸς τῶν Ἑλληνιστῶν πρὸς τοὺς Ἑβραίους, ὅτι παρεθεωροῦντο ἐν τῇ διακονίᾳ τῇ καθημερινῇ αἱ χῆραι αὐτῶν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andδέde · thenG1161
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• thoseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• daysἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
• when the numberπληθύνωplēthunō · to multiplyG4129
• of the disciplesμαθητήςmathētēs · discipleG3101
• there aroseγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• a murmuringγογγυσμόςgoggusmos · murmuringG1112
• of the GreciansἙλληνιστήςHellēnistēs · HellenistG1675
• againstπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• the HebrewsἙβραῖοςHebraios · HebrewG1445
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• theirαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• widowsχήραchēra · widowG5503
• were neglectedπαραθεωρέωparatheōreō · to neglectG3865
• the dailyκαθημερινόςkathēmerinos · dailyG2522
• ministrationδιακονίαdiakonia · serviceG1248

Cross-references for Acts 6:1

• Acts 6:7And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
• Acts 2:41So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
• Acts 4:4But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
• Acts 5:14And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
• Psalms 72:16May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field!
• Psalms 110:3Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours.
• Isaiah 27:6In days to come Jacob shall take root, Israel shall blossom and put forth shoots and fill the whole world with fruit.
• Jeremiah 30:19Out of them shall come songs of thanksgiving, and the voices of those who celebrate. I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will make them honored, and they shall not be small.
• 1 Corinthians 10:10nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.
• Hebrews 13:1Let brotherly love continue.
• James 4:5Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"?
• James 5:9Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.
• Acts 9:29And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him.
• Acts 11:20But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
• 2 Corinthians 11:22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I.
• Philippians 3:5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;

Commentaries on Acts 6:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1A murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews - Those who are here termed Grecians, , or Hellenists, were Jews who sojourned now at Jerusalem, but lived in countries where the Greek language was spoken, and probably in general knew no other. They are distinguished here from those called Hebrews, by which we are to understand native Jews, who spoke what was then termed the Hebrew language, a sort of Chaldaio-Syriac. It has been remarked that Greek words…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1In those days … - The first part of this chapter contains an account of the appointment of “deacons.” It may be asked, perhaps, why the apostles did not appoint these officers at the first organization of the church? To this, question we may reply, that it was better to defer the appointment until an occasion should occur when it would appear to be manifestly necessary and proper. When the church was small, its alms could be distributed by the apostles…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The appointment of deacons. (1-7) Stephen falsely accused of blasphemy. (8-15) Verses 1-7 Hitherto the disciples had been of one accord; this often had been noticed to their honour; but now they were multiplied, they began to murmur. The word of God was enough to take up all the thoughts, cares, and time of the apostles. The persons chosen to serve tables must be duly qualified. They must be filled with gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost, necessary to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1the Grecian Jews: The Greek-speaking Christians were Jewish Christians from other parts of the Greek and Roman world. They likely followed some Greek customs. The Hebrew-speaking Christians were more traditional Jews from Palestine. They spoke Hebrew or Aramaic and avoided Greek customs. their widows were being overlooked: This injustice threatened the church's growth and development. Overlooking needs from one group caused frustration and required an…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-71. the Grecians--the Greek-speaking Jews, mostly born in the provinces. the Hebrews--those Jews born in Palestine who used their native tongue, and were wont to look down on the "Grecians" as an inferior class. were neglected--"overlooked" by those whom the apostles employed, and who were probably of the Hebrew class, as being the most numerous. The complaint was in all likelihood well founded, though we cannot suspect the distributors of intentional…Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 6:1

• Alms
• Beneficence
• Deacon
• Hebrew
• Poor

In the dictionaries

• Catch
• Deacon
• Grecians
• Hebrew
• Hebrews
• Honest
• Ministration
• Nicanor
• Poor
• Stephen

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