Acts 6:3

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.

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Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
Wherefore	οὖν oûn	G3767	(adverbially) certainly
brethren	ἀδελφοί, adelphoi	G80	a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (m… · noun — vocative plural masculine
out	ἐπισκέψασθε episkepsasthe	G1980	to inspect · verb — aorist middle deponent imperative, 2nd person plural
you	ὑμῶν hymōn	G5216	of (from or concerning) you
seven	ἑπτὰ hepta	G2033	seven · adjective — numeral, indeclinable
men	ἄνδρας andras	G435	a man (properly as an individual male) · noun — accusative plural masculine
of	ἐξ ex	G1537	literal or figurative · preposition
report	μαρτυρουμένους marturoumenous	G3140	to be a witness · verb — present passive participle, accusative plural masculine
full	πλήρεις plēreis	G4134	replete · adjective — accusative plural masculine
the	πνεύματος pneumatos	G4151	a current of air · noun — genitive singular neuter
Holy	ἁγίου hagiou	G40	sacred (physically · adjective — genitive singular neuter
Ghost	πνεῦμα pneûma	G4151	a current of air
and	καὶ kai	G2532	and · conjunction
wisdom	σοφίας sophias	G4678	wisdom (higher or lower · noun — genitive singular feminine
whom	οὓς hous	G3739	the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun · relative pronoun — accusative plural masculine
appoint	καταστήσομεν katastēsomen	G2525	to place down (permanently) · verb — future active indicative, 1st person plural
over	ἐπὶ epi	G1909	properly · preposition
this	ταύτης· tautēs	G3778	the he (she or it) · demonstrative pronoun — genitive singular feminine
business	χρείας chreias	G5532	employment · noun — genitive singular feminine

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

1 Timothy 3:7-15 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Deuteronomy 1:13 Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.
James 3:17-18 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without pa…
Numbers 27:18-19 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;
1 Timothy 5:10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she…
Acts 13:2-3 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
Genesis 41:38-39 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?
Numbers 11:16-25 And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and offi…

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Acts 6:1-7

Having seen the church's struggles with her enemies, and triumphed with her in her victories, we now come to take a view of the administration of her affairs at home; and here we have, I. An unhappy disagreement among some of the church-members, which might have been of ill consequence, but was prudently accommodated and taken up in time (Act 6:1): When the number of the disciples (for so Christians were at first called, learners of Christ) was multiplied to many thousands in Jerusalem, there arose a murmuring. 1. It does our hearts good to find that the number of the disciples is multiplied, as, no doubt, it vexed the priests and Sadducees to the heart to see it. The opposition that the pre…

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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 6:3

look ye out among you--that is, ye, "the multitude," from among yourselves. seven men of honest report--good reputation (Act 10:22; Ti1 3:7). full of the Holy Ghost--not full of miraculous gifts, which would have been no qualification for the duties required, but spiritually gifted (although on two of them miraculous power did rest). and wisdom--discretion, aptitude for practical business. whom we may appoint--for while the election was vested in the Christian people, the appointment lay with the apostles, as spiritual rulers.

Adam Clarke on Acts 6:3

Wherefore - 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 of service; and then there would be a superintendent for these widows, etc., for each day of the week. Of honest report - Μαρτυρουμενους Persons to whose character there is authentic testimony, well known and accredited. Full of the Holy Gho…

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The Church Fathers

[L]est, however, the circumstance [waiting on tables] forsaken [by the apostles] be thought more lowly, the handling of it was entrusted to [seven] distinguished deacons, and that precious [service] possessed a heavenly number.
— Arator, ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 1

"Look you out seven men," etc. It is not simply, spiritual men, but, "full of the Spirit and of wisdom," for it needed very great superiority of mind to bear the complainings of widows. For what profits it, that the dispenser of alms steal not, if nevertheless he waste all, or be harsh and easily provoked?
— John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 14

Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, etc. Hence the apostles, or the successors of the apostles, have now decreed that throughout all the Churches there should be seven deacons who are of higher rank than the others, and who stand near the altar like columns of the altar, not without some mystery of the number seven.
— Bede, Commentary on Acts

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary and topics

Brother — (1.) In the natural and common sense (Matt. 1:2; Luke 3:1, 19). (2.) A near relation, a cousin (Gen. 13:8; 14:16; Matt. 12:46; John 7:3; Acts 1:14; Gal. 1:19). (3.) Simply a fellow-countryman (Matt.…
Deacon — Anglicized form of the Greek word diaconos, meaning a “runner,” “messenger,” “servant.” For a long period a feeling of mutual jealousy had existed between the “Hebrews,” or Jews proper, who spoke the…
Nicanor — Conqueror, one of the seven deacons appointed in the apostolic Church (Acts 6:1-6). Nothing further is known of him.
Philip The Evangelist — is first mentioned in the account of the dispute between the Hebrew and Hellenistic disciples in Acts 6. He is one of the deacons appointed to superintend the daily distribution of food and alms, and…
Stephen — One of the seven deacons, who became a preacher of the gospel. He was the first Christian martyr. His personal character and history are recorded in Acts 6. “He fell asleep” with a prayer for his…
Timon — Honouring, one of the seven deacons at Jerusalem (Acts 6:5). Nothing further is known of him.
Widow — Under the Mosaic dispensation no legal provision was made for the maintenance of widows. They were left dependent partly on the affection of relations, more especially of the eldest son, whose…
Widows — To be treated with kindness (Ex. 22:22; Deut. 14:29; 16:11, 14; 24:17, 19-21; 26:12; 27:19, etc.). In the New Testament the same tender regard for them is inculcated (Acts 6:1-6; 1 Tim. 5:3-16) and…
Alms · .The early Christians — .The early Christians
Beneficence · 18:5,7-9; — 18:5,7-9;
Deacon · Selected by the people — Selected by the people

Acts 6:3

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Acts 6:1-7

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 6:3

Adam Clarke on Acts 6:3

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

Acts 6:3

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Acts 6:1-7

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 6:3

Adam Clarke on Acts 6:3

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

John Gill on Acts 6:3

John Calvin on Acts 6:1-6

Tyndale Open Study Notes on Acts 6:2-6