Acts 6:4 kjv
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
Acts 6:4 nkjv
but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
Acts 6:4 niv
and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."
Acts 6:4 esv
But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
Acts 6:4 nlt
Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word."
Acts 6 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 1:8 | "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses..." | Apostles' core mission to witness the Gospel |
| Acts 2:42 | "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." | Early church's devotion to apostolic teaching |
| Acts 4:31 | "And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken... and they continued to speak the word of God with boldness." | Prayer empowers bold proclamation of Word |
| Rom 1:16 | "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation..." | Emphasis on the saving power of the Gospel |
| Rom 10:17 | "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." | Word of God is source of faith |
| 1 Cor 1:17 | "For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel..." | Paul's emphasis on preaching the Gospel |
| 1 Cor 9:16 | "For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting... Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!" | Preaching as a divine compulsion |
| Eph 6:18 | "praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication." | Call to constant prayer for all believers |
| Col 4:2 | "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." | Encouragement to persevere in prayer |
| 1 Tim 3:2 | "Therefore an overseer must be above reproach... able to teach." | Qualification for spiritual leaders to teach |
| 1 Tim 4:13 | "Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching." | Devotion to the Word for leaders |
| 2 Tim 3:16 | "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof..." | God-breathed nature and profitability of Scripture |
| 2 Tim 4:2 | "preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." | Command to preach the Word persistently |
| Heb 4:12 | "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword..." | Power and active nature of God's Word |
| Isa 55:11 | "so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty..." | God's Word accomplishes its purpose |
| Jer 23:29 | "Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?" | Powerful, transformative nature of God's Word |
| Lk 6:12 | "In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God." | Jesus' example of dedicated prayer |
| Mk 3:14 | "And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach..." | Apostles' call was to preach |
| 1 Thess 5:17 | "pray without ceasing" | Call to persistent prayer |
| Acts 6:1-3 | "Now in these days... the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, 'It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.'" | Context for the apostles' prioritization |
Acts 6 verses
Acts 6 4 Meaning
Acts 6:4 articulates the apostles' primary commitment to their specific spiritual calling: steadfast devotion to prayer and to the faithful proclamation and teaching of God's Word. This declaration establishes a crucial division of labor within the early church, enabling the apostles to prioritize their divine mandate while delegating practical administrative tasks to other qualified individuals.
Acts 6 4 Context
Acts 6:4 arises from a critical juncture in the burgeoning early church in Jerusalem. As the number of disciples grew rapidly (Acts 6:1), a practical problem emerged: Hellenistic (Greek-speaking) Jewish widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food compared to the Hebraic (Aramaic-speaking) Jewish widows. This threatened church unity and the effective execution of the apostles' God-given mandate. Recognizing the severity of the issue, the apostles convened the disciples (Acts 6:2-3). They identified that administering "serving tables" (διακονεῖν τραπέζαις - diakonein trapezais), while necessary, would divert them from their primary duties. Thus, Acts 6:4 states their resolved focus: to commit themselves solely to prayer and the ministry of the Word, while instructing the congregation to choose seven men "full of the Spirit and of wisdom" to handle the daily administration. This strategic decision addressed the immediate need while preserving the core spiritual leadership role.
Acts 6 4 Word analysis
- But: Greek: δὲ (de). A contrasting conjunction indicating a shift or strong counterpoint. It clearly delineates the apostles' priority from the administrative tasks to be delegated.
- we: Greek: Ἡμεῖς (Hēmeis). An emphatic first-person plural pronoun, underscoring the apostles themselves, drawing a clear distinction between their role and others. This highlights their specific, collective resolve.
- will devote ourselves: Greek: προσκαρτερήσομεν (proskarterēsomēn). A future indicative form of proskartereō, meaning "to continue steadfastly," "to persist in," or "to be assiduously diligent." It implies unwavering commitment, perseverance, and intense application of effort. This is not a casual or occasional activity but a concentrated, ongoing dedication, indicating spiritual discipline and resolve.
- to prayer: Greek: τῇ προσευχῇ (tē proseuchē). Proseuchē signifies worship and supplication to God. It encompasses personal and corporate communion with the divine. For the apostles, this was not a perfunctory act but the lifeblood of their spiritual power and discernment, providing the spiritual resource for all their endeavors (e.g., Acts 4:24-31 for power in proclamation). It reflects their absolute reliance on God.
- and: Greek: καὶ (kai). A simple conjunction linking the two core activities, showing them as inseparable and equally vital.
- to the ministry: Greek: τῇ διακονίᾳ (tē diakonia). From diakoneō, "to serve." While often associated with practical service (like "serving tables" in Acts 6:2), here diakonia specifies the nature of the apostles' particular "service"—it's spiritual, specifically "of the word." It elevates teaching and preaching to a divine service, a spiritual form of diaconal work. This highlights that "ministry" is not solely about practical acts but primarily about faithful stewardship of God's revealed truth.
- of the word: Greek: τοῦ λόγου (tou logou). Logos here refers to God's revealed truth, the Gospel message, or Christian teaching, consistent with its usage in passages about proclaiming truth (e.g., Acts 4:29, Rom 10:17). It represents the divine message, the authoritative declaration of God's will and saving purpose through Christ. It's the essential content of apostolic preaching and teaching, central to faith and spiritual growth.
Acts 6 4 Bonus section
- The prioritization of "prayer and the ministry of the word" is a critical theological and ecclesiological principle established early in the church. It distinguishes between distinct forms of ministry (diakonia) and asserts the primary spiritual mandate of apostles/elders/overseers (pastors) within the Christian assembly.
- This verse underpins the spiritual power demonstrated by the early church. Acts 6:7 notes that "the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly," implying a direct correlation between the apostles' focused devotion to prayer and the Word, and the resultant expansion of God's kingdom.
- The decision underscores a deep wisdom in recognizing the dangers of ministry burnout and dilution of focus. It emphasizes that a spiritual leader's greatest effectiveness is not found in being busy with all tasks, but in diligently focusing on what they are divinely called and uniquely gifted to do.
- The apostles did not abandon their "diakonia" entirely; rather, they specialized their diaconal service to "diakonia tou logou," revealing that "service" in God's kingdom encompasses both spiritual and practical dimensions.
Acts 6 4 Commentary
Acts 6:4 is a pivotal declaration defining apostolic priorities. Faced with a burgeoning practical problem that threatened to sidetrack them, the apostles firmly established the preeminence of their unique calling: prayer and the ministry of the Word. This was not a dismissal of practical service but a recognition of their distinct and foundational role within the growing church structure. By prioritizing communion with God through prayer, and the faithful, consistent exposition of His Word, they ensured the spiritual health, growth, and doctrinal integrity of the nascent Christian community. This principle established a pattern for church leadership, emphasizing that spiritual oversight is primarily rooted in spiritual discipline and faithful communication of divine truth, while other vital services are competently delegated to qualified individuals within the body. It speaks to the indispensable spiritual sustenance that comes through devotion to God in prayer and immersion in His authoritative revelation.