Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Acts 6:3

ἁγίου omitted after πνεύματος with אBCD. Vulg. ‘sancto.’

3. ἐπισκέψασθε οὖν κ.τ.λ., but look ye out from among you. If the selection were committed to the whole body there could hardly fail to be an end put to the oversight and so to the murmuring.

ἀδελφοί, brethren. One of the earliest names employed in addressing the members of the Church, and particularly suitable to this occasion.

μαρτυρουμένους. Literally, attested, well reported of, as in 1 Timothy 5:10. The same word is rendered of good report afterwards in Acts 10:22.

ἑπτά. The number seven was probably fixed on because that was the number of persons chosen to manage public business in Jewish towns. See Mishna Megillah III. 1, ‘The men of the city who dispose of city market-places may buy with the price thereof a synagogue, or if they sell a synagogue, they may buy an ark (to keep the Law in), or if they sell an ark, they may buy wrappers (the ornamental and costly covers in which the Law was rolled) for the Law, and if they sell these wrappers they may buy books (i.e. the Prophets and the Hagiographa), and if they sell books they may buy a copy of the Torah, but if they have sold a Torah they may not buy books,’ and so on in the contrary order.

On this ordinance it is said, T. B. Megillah 26 a, ‘Raba says, This is only applicable when the seven good men of the city sell anything in the presence of the men of the city.’

πλήρεις πνεύματος καὶ σοφίας, full of the Spirit and of wisdom. They were to be approved both by God and man. Men could judge of their wisdom, and God had in these days shed forth the Spirit on many.

καταστήσομεν, we will appoint. Some authorities read καταστήσωμεν, and that appears to be represented by constituamus of the Vulgate. While leaving to the assembled brethren the selection of the men, the Apostles keep some control still with themselves. They certainly would judge best concerning the spiritual fitness of the chosen seven.

τῇ προσευχῇ καὶ τῇ διακονίᾳ τοῦ λόγου, to prayer and to the ministry of the word, which explains what is meant by ‘to forsake the word of God’ in Acts 6:2. Here again we have the word διακονία to describe the Apostle’s duty of preaching and teaching. Each office was, if duly performed, a part of the service which was laid upon the whole Church. Cp. Milton, Sonnet XIV., ‘They also serve who only stand and wait.’

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Acts 6:3

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