New International Version
Acts 6:3
3Brothers 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
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.
- 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;
- New Living Translation (NLT)And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility.
Context of Acts 6:3
1In 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. 2So 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. 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 4and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” 5This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
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 believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
- Acts 15:23With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings.
- Matthew 23:8“But 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 passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
- Acts 1:21Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us,
- Numbers 11:16The Lord said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you.
- Deuteronomy 1:13Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you.”
- 1 Corinthians 16:3Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem.
- 2 Corinthians 8:19What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help.
- Acts 10:22The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.”
- Acts 16:2The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.
- Acts 22:12“A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there.
- 1 Timothy 3:7He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
- 1 Timothy 5:10and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.
- 3 John 1:12Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.
- Acts 2:4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues 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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