New English Translation
Acts 6:3
3But carefully select from among you, brothers, seven men who are well-attested, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this necessary task.
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
1Now in those days, when the disciples were growing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Greek-speaking Jews against the native Hebraic Jews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2So the twelve called the whole group of the disciples together and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to wait on tables. But carefully select from among you, brothers, seven men who are well-attested, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this necessary task. 4But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5The proposal pleased the entire group, so they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a Gentile convert to Judaism from Antioch.
Read all of Acts 6Acts 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 9:30When the brothers found out about this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.
- Acts 15:23They sent this letter with them: From the apostles and elders, your brothers, to the Gentile brothers and sisters 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 crossed over from death to life because we love our fellow Christians. The one who does not love remains in death.
- Acts 1:21Thus one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time the Lord Jesus associated with us,
- Numbers 11:16The Lord said to Moses, “Gather to me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know are elders of the people and officials over them, and bring them to the tent of meeting; let them take their position there with you.
- Deuteronomy 1:13Select wise and practical men, those known among your tribes, whom I may appoint as your leaders.”
- 1 Corinthians 16:3Then, when I arrive, I will send those whom you approve with letters of explanation to carry your gift to Jerusalem.
- 2 Corinthians 8:19In addition, this brother has also been chosen by the churches as our traveling companion as we administer this generous gift to the glory of the Lord himself and to show our readiness to help.
- Acts 10:22They said, “Cornelius the centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man, well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to hear a message from you.”
- Acts 16:2The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.
- Acts 22:12A man named Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who live there,
- 1 Timothy 3:7And he must be well thought of by those outside the faith, so that he may not fall into disgrace and be caught by the devil’s trap.
- 1 Timothy 5:10and has a reputation for good works: as one who has raised children, practiced hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, helped those in distress – as one who has exhibited all kinds of good works.
- 3 John 1:12Demetrius has been testified to by all, even by the truth itself. We also testify to him, and you know that our testimony is true.
- Acts 2:4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages 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
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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