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

1At that time, as the number of disciples grew, Greek-speaking Jews complained about the Hebrew-speaking Jews. The Greek-speaking Jews claimed that the widows among them were neglected every day when food and other assistance was distributed. 2The twelve apostles called all the disciples together and told them, “It’s not right for us to give up God’s word in order to distribute food. So, brothers and sisters, choose seven men whom the people know are spiritually wise. We will put them in charge of this problem. 4However, we will devote ourselves to praying and to serving in ways that are related to the word.” 5The suggestion pleased the whole group. So they chose Stephen, who was a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and they chose Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, who had converted to Judaism in the city of Antioch.

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• look ye outἐπισκέπτομαιepiskeptomai · to visit/care forG1980
• among youσύsu · youG4771
• sevenἑπτάhepta · sevenG2033
• menἀνήρanēr · manG435
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• honest reportμαρτυρέωmartureō · to testifyG3140
• fullπλήρηςplērēs · fullG4134
• of theπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• Holyἅγιοςhagios · holyG40
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• wisdomσοφίαsophia · wisdomG4678
• whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• we may appointκαθίστημιkathistēmi · to appoint/conductG2525
• overἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• businessὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• businessχρείαchreia · needG5532

Cross-references for Acts 6:3

• Acts 9:30As soon as the disciples found out about this, they took Saul to Caesarea and sent him to Tarsus.
• Acts 15:23They wrote this letter for them to deliver: From the apostles and the spiritual leaders, your brothers. To their non-Jewish brothers and sisters in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Dear brothers and sisters,
• Matthew 23:8But don’t make others call you Rabbi, because you have only one teacher, and you are all followers.
• 1 John 3:14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love other believers. The person who doesn’t grow in love remains in death.
• Acts 1:21He must be one of the men who accompanied Jesus with us the entire time that the Lord Jesus was among us.
• Numbers 11:16The Lord answered Moses, “Bring me 70 Israelite men who you know are leaders and officers of the people. Take them to the tent of meeting, and have them stand with you.
• Deuteronomy 1:13From each of your tribes, choose some men who are wise, intelligent, and experienced, and I’ll appoint them to be your leaders.”
• 1 Corinthians 16:3When I come, I will give letters of introduction to the people whom you choose. You can send your gift to Jerusalem with them.
• 2 Corinthians 8:19More than that, the churches elected him to travel with us and bring this gift of God’s kindness. We are administering it in a way that brings glory to the Lord and shows that we are doing it willingly.
• Acts 10:22The men replied, “Cornelius, a Roman army officer, sent us. He’s a man who has God’s approval and who respects God. Also, the Jewish people respect him. A holy angel told him to summon you to his home to hear what you have to say.”
• Acts 16:2The believers in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of Timothy.
• Acts 22:12“A man named Ananias lived in Damascus. He was a devout person who followed Moses’ Teachings. All the Jews living in Damascus spoke highly of him.
• 1 Timothy 3:7People who are not Christians must speak well of him, or he might become the victim of disgraceful insults that the devil sets as traps for him.
• 1 Timothy 5:10People should tell about the good things she has done: raising children, being hospitable, taking care of believers’ needs, helping the suffering, or always doing good things.
• 3 John 1:12Everyone, including the truth itself, says good things about Demetrius. We also say good things about him, and you know that what we say is true.
• Acts 2:4All the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.

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