Ministration (Acts 6:1)
Neither AV [Note: V Authorized Version.] nor RV [Note: V Revised Version.], except in the margin, indicates that ‘ministration’ (διακονία) in v. 1 and ‘serve’ (διακονε ῖ ν) in v. 2 are cognate words; or that ‘ministration’ in v. 1 is the same word as ‘ministry’ in v. 4. The ‘ministration’ or ‘serving tables’ is the distribution of food at the common meals: tables of exchange for money cannot be meant. Hellenist converts complain that Hebrew distributors ‘overlooked’ Hellenist widows. The Twelve forth with initiate and regulate the first attempt at self-government made by the Church. They state the number and qualifications of the new officials, leave the election to the whole body of Christians, and ordain the elected.
A. Plummer.