These
words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch; whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. The word of God increased and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
Acts 6:5-7
Acts 6 [1.] Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service. The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables. Therefore select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.”
Acts 6 [5.] These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch; whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. The word of God increased and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
Acts 6 [8.] Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. But some of those who were of the synagogue called “The Libertines”, and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen. They weren’t able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and came against him and seized him, and brought him in to the council, and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” All who sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face like it was the face of an angel.
Meaning:
The apostles had proposed that the believers choose seven men “of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom” to oversee the daily care of the widows (Acts 6:3), while they themselves continued in prayer and the ministry of the word (Acts 6:4). These verses tell how the church responded, how the seven were appointed, and how the gospel kept spreading.
- “These words pleased the whole multitude”
The solution was accepted by everyone. The complaint had come from one group, but the whole church agreed on the remedy. The apostles proposed, the congregation chose, and the apostles appointed: leaders and people worked together.
- “They chose Stephen… Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus”
All seven names are Greek. Some Hebrews also had Greek names, so this does not prove that all seven were Hellenists, but it is likely that many or all came from the group whose widows had been neglected. If so, the overlooked group was cared for by people who understood them. Two of the seven become important later. Stephen, “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit,” is the subject of the rest of chapters 6 and 7. Philip became an evangelist in Samaria (Acts 8:5) and was later known as “Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven” (Acts 21:8).
- “Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch”
A proselyte was a Gentile who had converted to Judaism. Nicolaus came from Antioch in Syria, the city that later became the base of the mission to the Gentiles (Acts 11:20). Some early church writers connected him with the Nicolaitans of Revelation 2:6, but the text gives no evidence for this, and many scholars doubt the link.
- “When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them”
Laying on of hands was an Old Testament sign of commissioning. Moses laid his hands on Joshua before the people to give him authority (Numbers 27:18). In Acts the church lays hands on Barnabas and Saul before sending them out (Acts 13:3), and Paul reminds Timothy of “the laying on of the hands of the elders” (1 Timothy 4:14). The seven are often called the first deacons, since the Greek word for “serve” is related to “deacon”. Luke does not use that title for them, however, and Christians differ on whether this event set up the later office described in 1 Timothy 3:8-13 or was a one-time arrangement.
- “The word of God increased”
Luke often marks a stage in the story with a summary of growth (Acts 12:24; Acts 19:20). Solving the problem did not slow the mission; it freed it. The apostles were able to give themselves to the word, and “the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly.”
- “A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith”
This is a striking detail. The priests served in the temple, and the chief priests were leading the opposition to the apostles (Acts 5:17). Yet many ordinary priests believed. Many ordinary priests were poor and far from the powerful high priestly families. To be “obedient to the faith” means to respond to the gospel with belief and a changed life.
The Significance of Acts 6:5-7
- Shared decisions build unity
The apostles did not impose a solution or ignore the complaint. They set out principles and invited the church to choose. When a community shares in the solution, it is more likely to own it.
- Practical service is spiritual work
The seven were chosen for a practical task, but the qualifications were spiritual. Stephen and Philip show that faithfulness in serving others can open the way to greater opportunities for witness.
Cross-References:
Acts 6:3: "Therefore select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom" The qualifications for the seven.
Numbers 27:18: "Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him." Laying on of hands for commissioning.
Acts 21:8: "We entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven" Philip later in Acts.
Conclusion: The whole church welcomed the apostles’ proposal and chose seven men, likely from among the Greek-speaking believers, whom the apostles commissioned with prayer and the laying on of hands. With the problem resolved, the word of God spread, the disciples multiplied, and even many priests came to faith. The passage shows how wise, shared leadership protects unity and frees the church for mission.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible