Acts 6

Acts 6:1

[a] Grecians] The word Ἑλληνισταὶ is by the Syriac rendered “Jews that understand Greek;” and by St. Chrysostom, τοὺς Ἑλληνιστὶ φθεγγομένους, “those that speak Greek,” in opposition to the βαθεὶς Ἑβραίοι, “the profound, or deep, Hebrews;” so saith Phavorinus, Ἑλληνίζω, Ἑλληνικῶς φθέγγομαι, καὶ τὰ Ἑλλήνων φρονῶ, “to Hellenize is to speak Greek, and to have skill in the Greek learning.” So saith Scaliger, “Ἑλληνίζειν non est habitare in Græcia, sed lingua Græca uti,” It is not to dwell in Greece, but to use the Greek language." And so those here that used the Septuagint’s translation of the Bible are called Ἑλληνισταὶ, Hellenists. And so are differenced here from the Ἑβραίοι, Hebrews, which used the Jerusalem paraphrase. Thus are Ἑλληνισταὶ, Acts xi. 20, differenced from the Jews in general, ver. 19, not that those Hellenists were not Jews, (for there, ver. 20, it is said that they

b De Pudic. c. 9. c Theodor. Qu. 12. in Deut.

Acts 6:2

And the twelve apostles calling the church together, said unto them, We have resolved or decreed (see note [c] John viii.) that it is no way fit or reasonable that we should neglect the preaching of the gospel, and undertake the care of looking to the poor.

[b] the multitude of the disciples] Τὸ πλῆθος τῶν μαθητῶν, multitude of disciples here are the community or society of Christians, called sometimes πάντες, the all. 1 Tim. v. 20, πλείονες, the many, 2 Cor. ii. 6, answerable to the multitude here; and sometimes Χριστιανοί, Christians, or followers of Christ, in respect of whom, as their doctor or master, they are here called μαθηταί, disciples; and both ordinarily united together in the word ἐκκλησία, church, and ἀδελφοί, the brethren: see ch. xv. 3, 4, 23, and Matt. xviii. 17. Now what power the church or brethren considered in this notion, the society of Christians, do here appear to have, may be considerable. The choice of the persons of the deacons is here committed to them: but that first by the appointment of the apostles declared to them. The twelve called to them the multitude, and said, Look out &c., vv. 2, 3. Secondly, they had by the apostles these bounds set them: 1st, To take seven, the number specified by the apostles, not left arbitrary to them. 2dly, To pitch on ἄνδρας μαρτυρουμένους, men generally known and well reputed of. 3dly, With these qualifications: 1st, faith, supposed in the ἐξ ὑμῶν, some of you, that is, believers, Christians; 2dly, fulness of the Holy Ghost, extraordinary gifts; 3dly, fulness of wisdom, fitted by all these for this employment. And when by the apostles’ appointment, together with the observation of these prescribed rules, the multitude have sought out the persons, then still the apostles reserve the καταστήσομεν, the ordination or constitution of them, to themselves, ver. 3. In the nomination of bishops and deacons in other churches, the like may be concluded from the Epistles to Timothy and Titus, viz. that somewhat was referred to the church, particularly their testimony concerning the qualifications of the persons. For the bishop that was to ordain is by St. Paul’s direction first to inquire, as it were upon articles, (εἴ τις ἐστὶν ἀνέγκλητος, if, or whether, he be blameless, &c.) which concerning a bishop are fifteen, Tit. i. 6, seventeen, 1 Tim. iii. 1, fewer concerning a deacon: and all of them being matters of fact and manners, Timothy, which was newly entered upon his province, and Titus, lately left in Crete, could not possibly be instructed sufficiently from their own experience, and therefore must be supposed to have it by inquiry of the church. So in the censures of the church the offender must be rebuked before the many, 2 Cor. ii. 6, ἐπιτιμία ὑπὸ τῶν πλειόνων, before the church, Matt. xviii. 17, ἐνώπιον πάντων, before all, 1 Tim. v. 20. Where yet it is Timothy the bishop that must ἐλέγχων, rebuke the offenders, only in the presence, and with the notice of the church, to make the rebuke more considerable, to produce shame and reformation. Lastly, in the council at Jerusalem, with the apostles and elders, or bishops of Judæa, is joined ὅλη ἐκκλησία, the whole church, ch. xv. 22, in the choosing and sending messengers to Antioch; but that with a most discernible distinction, the apostles and elders, as they whose decree or appointment it was, ἔδοξε τοῖς ἀποστόλοις καὶ πρεσβυτέροις, it pleased or seemed good

Acts 6:3

Therefore do you nominate to us seven men, who have approved themselves to be faithful trusty persons, the most eminent of the believers among you, that we may consecrate or ordain them to this office of deacons in the church, and intrust them with the task of distributing to them that want out of the stock of the church; and in the choice of them let it also be observed, that they be persons of eminent gifts, and knowledge in divine matters, see ver. 10. (who consequently may be fit to be employed by us in preach-

dishonourably used, κατηξιώθησαν ἀντμ. 15 in some house, κατ’ οἶκον: see note [c] ch. i. 1 the Hellenists. 2 thought fit, ἀριστὸν. 3 seven men of you, that are approved, ἄνδρας ἐξ ὑμῶν μαρτυρουμένους ἑπτὰ. 4 for this use, ἐκὶ τῆς χρείας ταύτης: see note [f] Titus iii.

[c] full of the Holy Ghost] What is meant by πλήρεις Πνεύματος Ἁγίου, full of the Holy Ghost, in this place, may perhaps be best collected by a further consideration of the words of Christ, Mark xvi. 17, 18: But signs shall attend them which believe these things, (so σημεῖα δὲ τοῖς πιστεύσασι ταῦτα παρακολουθήσει may be rendered,) or these signs shall attend, or follow, them that believe. These words seem to contain a promise of extraordinary gifts (of casting out devils, speaking strange languages, healing, &c., vv. 17, 18.) to others (beside the apostles) under the name of believers. For the believers there, πιστεύσαντες, are all one with the he that believeth, ὁ πιστεύσας, and is baptized, ver. 16, and that is those that upon the apostles’ preaching shall believe and enter into the church, or be added to it: but this not so unlimitedly on one side, as that all that did believe should have those gifts bestowed upon them, (see note [d] ch. ii,) for then here would have been no choice; all being full of the Holy Ghost, they could not look out men that were full; nor yet with such restrictions on the other side, as that none had these gifts but those that were ordained to sacred functions, for then these, who were not yet so ordained, could not thus be full. But I suppose the truth is in the middle. At the apostles’ preaching and men’s receiving the gospel, many of them that believed had extraordinary gifts, miraculous powers bestowed upon them, for the testifying to themselves and others the truth of the gospel in those first times, and to qualify them for the services of the church when they should be called to it. And agreeably those that were thus endowed were generally chosen to such employments (before others who had them not) as there was need of them; and such I suppose are here meant under the phrase of full of the Holy Ghost, and that phrase mentioned by the apostles as a qualification required in those whom they would appoint

Acts 6:4

And by that means we shall be less disturbed or interrupted in our daily employment of praying, and preaching the gospel.

Acts 6:5

And the thing was thus agreed on by those other that associated with the apostles. And they pitched upon Stephen first, a very worthy person, that was richly instructed in the doctrine of Christ, and was by the Holy Ghost’s coming upon him fitted with elocution and all other abilities to preach the gospel, and Philip—

Acts 6:6

These seven, the whole number of disciples that associated with them, presented to the twelve apostles, and they, that is, the apostles, by prayer and imposition of hands, (see note [f] 1 Tim. v.,) consecrated or ordained them to this office of deacons.

Acts 6:7

And the faith of Christ was propagated, and a very great number of men in Jerusalem associated with the apostles, every day more and more; and many of the Jewish priests received the gospel thus preached by the apostles.

Acts 6:8

And Stephen, the deacon, being endued with great abundance of Christian knowledge, and also with the power of working miracles, did great wonders and miracles—

Acts 6:9

And as he preached the faith of Christ, some men of that synagogue which was called by the name (because perhaps built at the charges) of the Libertines, (that is, those which were the sons of them which being Jews had been made free denisons by the Romans, or were born of Jewish parents, in cities which had those privileges under the Romans, such as Tarsus, (see note [c] ch. xxii.,) where Paul was born, who was an active person in this business, ch. vii. 58; some, I say, of those Jews,) and of those that dwelt in Cyrene and Alexandria and in Cilicia and Asia, opposed Stephen, and contradicted him.

Acts 6:10

And he spake with so much knowledge and conviction of argument, and with so great excellence of elocution, that they were no way able to deal with him.

Acts 6:11

And being overcome by his reasons and power of speaking, they betook themselves to other viler arts, and hired some men to accuse him falsely, and to make complaint to the sanhedrim, that they had heard him speak dishonourably of the Jewish religion.

a continue in, προκαταπλημιν τῇ. a they prayed, and laid, προκαταπλημιν αὐτοῦ.

Acts 6:39

[i] lest haply ye] These words μήποτε, &c., lest ye be found fighters against God, are in the sense to be connected with ἑάσατε αὐτούς, let them alone, ver. 37. So that all that is betwixt must be read as in parenthesis.

Acts 6:40

And they took his advice, and sending for the apostles in again into the court, they appointed them to be scourged, (a punishment of a reproachful contumelious nature, ver. 41,) and giving them charge not to preach the faith of Christ any more, they released them.

Acts 6:41

And this was matter of comfort and rejoicing to the apostles, (according to that of Matt. v. 12,) that they were advanced to that degree of honour and blessedness, as to be scourged for preaching of Christ.

[k] suffer shame] Ἀτιμάζεται ὁ ὑβριζόμενος ἓν τινι πράγματι, saith Ammonius: it signifies “reproachful, contumelious usage;” such was this of scourging, that was a servile, and dishonourable, infamous punishment.

Acts 6:42

And they divided their time betwixt the temple more openly, and the upper room more privately, and continued constantly in one of those places, either instructing those that had already received the faith, or preaching it new to those that had not received it.

CHAP. VI.

the number of Christians increasing, the Jews that understood Greek, and used the Greek Bible in their congregations, complained of unequal dealing, viz., that there was little care of their widows (see note [a] 1 Tim. v.) in proportion or comparison with the Hebrews, in the daily distribution or provision that was made for the poor: (see note [a] Luke viii.)