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Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

Acts 6:4

“But we will continue steadfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word.”

The administrative problems being sorted out, they hoped satisfactorily, the Apostles themselves would then concentrate on prayer and the ministry of the word. The new appointees would be administrative ‘ministers' (deacons) and the Apostles would be ‘deacons' of the word. We should not see here, except possibly in embryo form, a deliberate distinction between ‘deacons' and non-deacons. It was simply a practical division of responsibilities, with all ‘serving' (deaconing) together, while recognising the special responsibility of the Apostles.

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See also Acts 6:4 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Acts 6:4. _WE WILL GIVE OURSELVES CONTINUALLY TO PRAYER_] προσκαρτερησομεν,, We will _steadfastly_ and _invariably_ attend, we will _carefully keep_ our _hearts_ to this work. The word is very e...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    BUT WE WILL GIVE OURSELVES CONTINUALLY - The original expression used here denotes “intense and persevering” application to a thing, or unwearied effort in it. See the notes on Acts 1:14. It means tha...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 6 _ 1. The Murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews (Acts 6:1)._ 2. Stephen; His Ministry and Arrest (Acts 6:8). Another failure is brought before us. The enemy acts again. From without...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    CHOICE OF THE SEVEN. A division shows itself in the Church. The Hellenists (_mg.),_ the members who spoke Greek, having been brought up in Greek-speaking countries, murmur against the Hebrews, those w...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    In those days, when the number of the disciples was growing, there arose a complaint of the Greek-speaking Jews against the Hebrew-speaking Jews, in which they alleged that their widows were being ove...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE FIRST OFFICE-BEARERS (Acts 6:1-7)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    GIVE OURSELVES CONTINUALLY. Greek. _proskartereo,_ as in Acts 1:14. PRAYER. App-134. MINISTRY. App-190....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Acts 6:1. Murmuring about the distribution of the common fund. Measures for allaying it By the confession of the high-priest himself (Acts 5:28) Jerusalem was now filled with the teaching of the Chri...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _But we will give ourselves continually_ The Greek word is used several times in describing the earnest conduct of the disciples. Thus (Acts 1:14) "these all _continued_with one accord in prayer," and...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΠΡΟΣΚΑΡΤΕΡΉΣΟΜΕΝ, _we will give ourselves continually_. The word is of frequent use to describe the earnest, stedfast character of the early disciples. Thus Acts 1:14 of their continuance in prayer; A...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    Acts 6:1-7. MURMURING ABOUT THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE COMMON FUND. MEASURES FOR ALLAYING IT By the confession of the high-priest himself (Acts 5:28) Jerusalem was now filled with the teaching of the Chr...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _THE FIRST DISSENSION IN THE CHURCH ACTS 6:1-4:_ Until this time, the growth of the church had been great and the harmony of the church had been undisturbed. The number of disciples continued to grow...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΠΡΟΣΚΑΡΤΕΡΉΣΟΜΕΝ _fut. ind. act. от_ ΠΡΟΣΚΑΡΤΕΡΈΩ (G4342) придерживаться, продолжать (_см._ Acts 1:14)....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    ON SOLOMON'S PORCH. Acts 6:1-6. 1 Now in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were negl...

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    See notes on verse 2...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

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  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

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  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

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  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

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  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

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  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

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  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

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  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    ἡμεῖς δὲ : in marked contrast to the service of tables, etc., but still every work in the Church, whether high or low, was a διακονία. τῇ διακ. τοῦ λ., see above. προσκαρτερήσομεν, “will continue stea...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

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  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The story alternates between the opposition of the outside crowd and the condition of the Church in its own borders. A difficulty arose concerning the distribution of relief which had a national tone....

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

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  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    THE DEACONATE 2-5. God is a great Organizer. Hence He has given the New Testament Church a simple, perfect and beautiful organization. The bishop is the leader of the holiness band [for such were all...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. (3) Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    First of all we see man in an entirely new place man risen from among the dead and ascending to heaven. The risen ascended man, Christ Jesus, is the new starting-point of the dealings of God. The firs...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _THE DIACONATE_ ‘But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.’ Acts 6:4 The date of the institution of the diaconate is doubtful—how long after Pentecost we do...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    4._And we will give ourselves unto prayer. _They show again that they have too much business otherwise, wherein they may exercise themselves during their whole life. For the old proverb agreeth hereun...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Other evils, unhappily, assail the church (Chapter 6). The flesh begins to shew itself, in the midst of the power of the Holy Ghost, the trouble arising from the different circumstances of the discipl...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    BUT WE WILL GIVE OURSELVES CONTINUALLY TO PRAYER,.... Both in private for themselves, and the church; and in the houses and families of the saints, with the sick and distressed;. and in public, in the...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. Ver. 4. _To prayer, and to the ministry_] Between these two they divided their time. An argument of their integrity...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Then the twelve_ For such was now again their number, Matthias having supplied the place of Judas; _called the multitude of the disciples unto them_ Not the rest of the one hundred and twenty merely,...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

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  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE CHOOSING OF THE FIRST DEACONS. The matter laid before the congregation:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

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  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

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  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

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  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    But we will continue stedfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word. 'CONTINUE STEDFASTLY'-'devote ourselves whole-heartedly' (Phi) 'IN PRAYER'-both public and private. The apostles believed i...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-7 Hitherto the disciples had been of one accord; this often had been noticed to their honour; but now they were multiplied, they began to murmur. The word of God was enough to take up all the thoug...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    WE WILL GIVE OURSELVES CONTINUALLY; we will stick close, and with perseverance, to this work. TO PRAYER, AND TO THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD; the two great employs of a minister of Jesus Christ; to pray u...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Acts 6:4 but G1161 we G2249 continually G4342 (G5692) prayer G4335 and G2532 ministry G1248 word G3056 give -

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    _The First Dissension in the Church leads to the Appointment of the Seven Deacons,_ 1-7. There is something very sad in the brief statement contained in the opening verses of this sixth chapter. It te...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    BUT WE (εμεις δε). In contrast to the work given the seven.THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD (τη διακονια του λογου). The same word διακονια employed in verse Acts 6:1, but here about preaching as the spec...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Acts 6; Acts 7 Stephen. From the history of Stephen we learn: I. That fidelity to truth provokes antagonism; holiness and sin are mutually repellent; love and selfishness are the opposites of each o...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Acts 6:1 Hellenist and Hebrew From the very day of Pentecost, the Jerusalem congregation had embraced a number of Hellenists, or foreign-trained Jews, though we have no means of knowing what proporti...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: The first deacons. Third persecution. Stephen before the council. CHARACTERS: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, apostles, Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, Nicolas, priests, Mose...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Acts 6:1. _A murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews._ The original word here rendered Grecians is _Hellenists;_ from Hellen, son of Deucalion, king of Thessalia, who was drowned during the inun...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    TO PRAYER AND THE WORK OF PREACHING. Note the apostles give prayer and preaching _equal_ priority....

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And in those days … there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews._ TROUBLE THE LOT OF THE CHURCH The Church on earth has always trouble; if it is not persecuted from without, disorde...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men._ THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT IN THE DEACONSHIP OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH I. The reasons assigned. 1. That the apostles might be relieved of secular du...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 6:1 The Witness beyond Jerusalem. Beginning with Greek-speaking Jewish Christians in Jerusalem (Acts 6:1), the Christian gospel was proclaimed to an ever-widening circle

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL REMARKS_ Acts 6:1. IN THOSE DAYS should be _in these days,—i.e._, shortly before Stephen’s martyrdom which did not long antedate Saul’s conversion in A.D. 37. Hence the events recorded in th...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ACTS 6:1 _Now in these _for _and in those, _A.V. (it is not ἐκείναις_, _answering to מהֵהָ מימַיָבַּ, but ταύταις); _multiplying _for _multiplied, _A.V._; Grecian Jews _for _Grecians, _...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now in those days, when the number of disciples was multiplied (Acts 6:1), We found the Lord adding to the church and now He's multiplying. I love the Lord's mathematics. there arose a murmuring (Ac...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 9:16; 1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 4:2; Acts 1:14; Acts 1

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    We will give ourselves continually [π ρ ο σ κ α ρ τ ε ρ η σ ο μ ε ν]. See on ch. Acts 1:14. Rev., continue steadfastly....

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    OBEDIENT TO THE FAITH Acts 6:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS May we tarry a while to study The Business Side of Church Life. Our text (Acts 6:3) says that there are three requirements: (1) Honest report; (2)...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    We will constantly attend to prayer, and to the ministry of the word — This is doubtless the proper business of a Christian bishop: to speak to God in prayer; to men in preaching his word, as an ambas...

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