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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• 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.

Context of Acts 6:1

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. 2So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. 3And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility.

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 6:7So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.
• Acts 2:41Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.
• Acts 4:4But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of men who believed now totaled about 5,000.
• Acts 5:14Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women.
• Psalms 72:16May there be abundant grain throughout the land, flourishing even on the hilltops. May the fruit trees flourish like the trees of Lebanon, and may the people thrive like grass in a field.
• Psalms 110:3When you go to war, your people will serve you willingly. You are arrayed in holy garments, and your strength will be renewed each day like the morning dew.
• Isaiah 27:6The time is coming when Jacob’s descendants will take root. Israel will bud and blossom and fill the whole earth with fruit!
• Jeremiah 30:19There will be joy and songs of thanksgiving, and I will multiply my people, not diminish them; I will honor them, not despise them.
• 1 Corinthians 10:10And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death.
• Hebrews 13:1Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.
• James 4:5Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him.
• James 5:9Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!
• Acts 9:29He debated with some Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to murder him.
• Acts 11:20However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus.
• 2 Corinthians 11:22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
• Philippians 3:5I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law.

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