Acts 6 5

Acts 6:5 kjv

And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

Acts 6:5 nkjv

And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,

Acts 6:5 niv

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

Acts 6:5 esv

And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.

Acts 6:5 nlt

Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith).

Acts 6 verses

Acts 6 5 Meaning

Acts 6:5 describes the church's response to the apostles' proposed solution for the administrative dispute concerning the daily distribution to widows. The solution involved selecting seven men from among the disciples to handle this service, allowing the apostles to focus on prayer and the ministry of the word. This verse specifically highlights that this proposition "pleased the whole multitude" and details the selection of seven men, including Stephen, notably described as "full of faith and of the Holy Ghost," and six others, culminating with Nicolas, identified as a proselyte from Antioch. This selection underscored the spiritual qualifications for service and the unity of the early church in establishing leadership for practical needs.

Acts 6 5 Context

Acts chapter 6 opens by detailing a specific challenge faced by the rapidly expanding early church in Jerusalem. A complaint arose from the Hellenist (Greek-speaking Jewish Christian) widows against the Hebraic (Aramaic-speaking Jewish Christian) widows, alleging neglect in the daily distribution of food. This tension threatened the unity of the nascent community. In response, the twelve apostles gathered the "multitude of the disciples" and proposed a solution: they would not neglect their primary call to prayer and the ministry of the word, but would instead delegate the service of "serving tables" (administrative and practical care) to a group of men chosen from among the believers. Acts 6:5 then presents the immediate positive reception of this proposal and lists the seven specific men chosen for this task, emphasizing their key spiritual qualifications. This selection marked a crucial organizational development, enabling effective practical service while maintaining the spiritual priorities of the apostolic ministry, fostering harmony and allowing the church to continue its explosive growth.

Acts 6 5 Word analysis

• And the saying pleased:
  • And: Connects the apostles' proposal in verse 4 with the congregation's reaction in verse 5.
  • the saying (ὁ λόγος - ho logos): Refers to the proposal put forth by the apostles (Acts 6:2-4) to choose seven men for serving tables. It implies a clear, articulated message or plan that was presented for consideration. The "logos" here is not primarily the Divine Word, but a specific verbal proposition.
  • pleased (ἤρεσεν - ēresen, from ἀρέσκω - areskō, to please, to make well-pleased): Signifies that the proposition was acceptable, agreeable, and well-received by the congregation. This indicates a spirit of unity and consensus within the early church regarding leadership and administrative decisions, suggesting that the Spirit of God guided this agreement.
• the whole multitude:
  • the whole (πᾶν - pan, all, whole): Emphasizes unanimity; there was no significant dissent. This speaks volumes about the unity and collective purpose of the early believers, even amidst internal strife.
  • multitude (τὸ πλῆθος - to plēthos, multitude, assembly, mass): Refers to the entire congregation of disciples present, affirming their participation in the selection process. This shows an early form of congregational involvement in church leadership selection, an act of communal assent and co-responsibility.
• and they chose Stephen:
  • they chose (ἐξελέξαντο - exelexanto, from ἐκλέγομαι - eklegomai, to choose out, select): Indicates the act of selection made by the multitude. This choice was not arbitrary but based on the apostles' criteria, implying both human agency and divine guidance. It highlights the Spirit's working through the gathered body of believers.
  • Stephen (Στέφανος - Stephanos, meaning "crown" or "garland"): The first mentioned and most prominent of the seven chosen, indicating his standing among the disciples. His subsequent actions and martyrdom demonstrate his character.
• a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost:
  • a man full of faith (πλήρης πίστεως - plērēs pisteōs): This is a profound spiritual qualification. "Full of faith" means complete trust in God, strong conviction, and reliance on His promises. This faith is active, evident in life, and goes beyond mere intellectual assent, empowering practical service. This also anticipates his ministry of wonders (Acts 6:8).
  • and of the Holy Ghost (καὶ Πνεύματος Ἁγίου - kai Pneumatos Hagiou): This indicates that Stephen was not just ethically sound or intellectually capable, but profoundly empowered, indwelt, and directed by the Spirit of God. This spiritual fullness was a primary qualification, enabling supernatural wisdom, power, and discernment beyond natural ability. These dual qualifications ("full of faith" and "full of the Holy Ghost") highlight the spiritual, rather than purely administrative, nature of their calling.
• and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
  • Philip: Also became a significant figure in Acts, performing wonders and preaching the Gospel (Acts 8:5ff), showcasing that these seven men's roles extended beyond mere food distribution.
  • Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas: The other five chosen men are less prominent in the biblical narrative, though equally significant for their service within the early church. Their inclusion demonstrates the necessity of diverse gifts and personalities for the functioning of the body. All seven names are Greek, suggesting that they were likely Hellenistic Jews themselves, which would address the complaint directly, as it came from Hellenistic widows. This decision demonstrates cultural sensitivity and wisdom.
  • Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
    • proselyte (προσήλυτος - prosēlytos, one who has come over): This denotes a Gentile who converted to Judaism before becoming a follower of Christ. This is highly significant, showing the earliest church's inclusiveness and acceptance of converts from Gentile backgrounds into positions of leadership, foreshadowing the full Gentile inclusion seen later in Acts (e.g., Cornelius).
    • of Antioch: Antioch later became a significant center for Gentile missions (Acts 11, 13, 14), and Nicolas's background potentially bridges connections to that community, emphasizing the diverse geographic and cultural origins of early church leaders. His background as a proselyte points to the Spirit of God's work extending beyond native-born Jews from the very beginning.

Acts 6 5 Bonus section

The group of "seven men" chosen in Acts 6 is often recognized as a precursor to the New Testament office of deacon (from the Greek diakonos, meaning "servant"). While not explicitly called deacons in Acts 6, their function aligns directly with the servant-leadership described in later epistles, particularly 1 Timothy 3:8-13, which lists qualifications for deacons. Their primary task, "serving tables" (Acts 6:2), encompasses more than just meal distribution, representing a broader commitment to practical care, financial administration, and meeting the needs of the community. This initial delegation of responsibilities was a divine strategy for handling numerical growth without compromising the spiritual mission, setting a precedent for differentiated ministries within the church body (e.g., teaching vs. serving). The fact that Stephen and Philip, two of these seven, immediately stepped into powerful public ministries of preaching and evangelism (Acts 6:8-7:53, Acts 8:4ff) demonstrates that the service office was not subordinate in spiritual significance but was often a gateway to broader kingdom work, powered by the Holy Spirit. This highlights that roles within the church are fluid and Spirit-led, and that gifted individuals can excel beyond their initial assigned tasks.

Acts 6 5 Commentary

Acts 6:5 marks a pivotal moment in the organizational development of the early Christian church. The proposal to delegate the task of daily distribution was not a reduction in spiritual focus, but a re-prioritization of apostolic duties (prayer and ministry of the word) and an acknowledgment of the growing needs of the community. The acceptance of this "saying" by "the whole multitude" underscores the unity and consensus-based decision-making in the early church, guided by the apostles' wisdom and the Spirit's prompting within the congregation.

The selection of these "seven men" is often seen as the foundational appointment of deacons, although the title itself is not used here. What stands out prominently are the qualifications, epitomized by Stephen: "full of faith and of the Holy Ghost." These are not merely administrative or logistical skills, but profoundly spiritual attributes. This emphasizes that true Christian service, even in practical matters, demands a vibrant spiritual life, trust in God, and empowerment by His Spirit. Stephen’s immediate demonstration of spiritual power and wisdom (Acts 6:8,10) validates this principle. The subsequent mention of Philip, who also becomes a powerful evangelist (Acts 8), reinforces that these roles were far from merely mundane but held profound spiritual potential.

The list of names, all Greek, addresses the specific contention between the Hellenist and Hebraic Jewish believers by appointing leaders from the community whose needs were neglected, thus promoting harmony. The inclusion of Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, further highlights the inclusive nature of the early church. His background as a Gentile convert to Judaism who then embraced Christ exemplifies the breaking down of ethnic and religious barriers within the new covenant community, demonstrating the Gospel’s broad reach and the Holy Spirit’s indiscriminate working, allowing individuals from all backgrounds to serve within Christ's body.

Practical examples: This verse informs current church practices for selecting leadership. It teaches that practical church service requires spiritual qualifications, not just worldly skills. It emphasizes the importance of discerning the Spirit's anointing in leaders, promotes unity in congregational decision-making, and encourages the delegation of tasks to allow spiritual leaders to focus on core ministries of prayer and the Word.