Acts 6:3

Read in context

Acts 6:1–5 · Berean Standard Bible

1 In those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Grecian Jews among them began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

2 So the Twelve summoned all the disciples and said, “It is unacceptable for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables.

3 Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will appoint this responsibility to them

4 and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.

Greek words

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Study Acts 6:3

Read the commentary on Acts 6

Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

Acts 9:30

When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

Acts 15:23

and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles 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 3:14

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death.

1 John 3:15

Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.

1 John 3:16

By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

Acts 1:21

Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

Numbers 11:16

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Bring Me seventy of the elders of Israel known to you as leaders and officers of the people. Bring them to the Tent of Meeting and have them stand there with you.

Deuteronomy 1:13

Choose for yourselves wise, understanding, and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will appoint them as your leaders.”

1 Corinthians 16:3

Then, on my arrival, I will send letters with those you recommend to carry your gift to Jerusalem.

2 Corinthians 8:19

More than that, this brother was chosen by the churches to accompany us with the offering —the gracious gift we administer to honor the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.

2 Corinthians 8:20

We hope to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this generous gift.

2 Corinthians 8:21

For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.

Acts 10:22

“Cornelius the centurion has sent us,” they said. “He is a righteous and God-fearing man with a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation. A holy angel instructed him to request your presence in his home so he could hear a message from you.”

Acts 16:2

The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.

Acts 22:12

There a man named Ananias, a devout observer of the law who was highly regarded by all the Jews living there,

1 Timothy 3:7

Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.

1 Timothy 3:8

Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued or given to much wine or greedy for money.

1 Timothy 3:10

Additionally, they must first be tested. Then, if they are above reproach, let them serve as deacons.

1 Timothy 5:10

and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.

3 John 1:12

Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true.

Acts 2:4

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Genesis 41:38

So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, in whom the Spirit of God abides?”

Genesis 41:39

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.

Numbers 11:17

And I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put that Spirit on them. They will help you bear the burden of the people, so that you do not have to bear it by yourself.

Numbers 11:18

And say to the people: Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you will eat meat, because you have cried out in the hearing of the LORD, saying: ‘Who will feed us meat? For we were better off in Egypt!’ Therefore the LORD will give you meat, and you will eat.

Numbers 11:19

You will eat it not for one or two days, nor for five or ten or twenty days,

Numbers 11:20

but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and makes you nauseous—because you have rejected the LORD, who is among you, and have cried out before Him, saying, ‘Why did we ever leave Egypt?’”

Numbers 11:21

But Moses replied, “Here I am among 600,000 men on foot, yet You say, ‘I will give them meat, and they will eat for a month.’

Numbers 11:22

If all our flocks and herds were slaughtered for them, would they have enough? Or if all the fish in the sea were caught for them, would they have enough?”

Numbers 11:23

The LORD answered Moses, “Is the LORD’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not My word will come to pass.”

Numbers 11:24

So Moses went out and relayed to the people the words of the LORD, and he gathered seventy of the elders of the people and had them stand around the tent.

Numbers 11:25

Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and He took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and placed that Spirit on the seventy elders. As the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied—but they never did so again.

Numbers 27:18

And the LORD replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man with the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him.

Numbers 27:19

Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, and commission him in their sight.

Job 32:7

I thought that age should speak, and many years should teach wisdom.

Job 32:8

But there is a spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.

Isaiah 11:2

The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.

Isaiah 11:3

And He will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what His eyes see, and He will not decide by what His ears hear,

Isaiah 11:4

but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.

Isaiah 11:5

Righteousness will be the belt around His hips, and faithfulness the sash around His waist.

Isaiah 28:6

a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and a strength to those who repel the onslaught at the gate.

Isaiah 28:26

For his God instructs and teaches him properly.

1 Corinthians 12:8

To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by the same Spirit,

Ephesians 5:18

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

James 1:17

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.

James 3:17

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

James 3:18

Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.

Acts 6:6

They presented these seven to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

Acts 13:2

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Acts 13:3

And after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

1 Timothy 3:9

They must hold to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

1 Timothy 3:11

In the same way, the women must be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate and faithful in all things.

1 Timothy 3:12

A deacon must be the husband of but one wife, a good manager of his children and of his own household.

1 Timothy 3:13

For those who have served well as deacons acquire for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 3:14

Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these things

1 Timothy 3:15

in case I am delayed, so that you will know how each one must conduct himself in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.