1.
And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
murmuring. Greek. gongusmos An onomatopoeic word. Here, John 7:12 . Php 2:14 ; 1 Peter 4:9 .
Grecians = Greek-speaking Jews. Greek. Hellenistes.
neglected = being overlooked. Greek. paratheoreo. Compare App-133 . Only here.
daily. Greek. kathemerinos. Only here.
ministration = ministering. App-190 . It was the relief of Acts 2:44 , Acts 2:45 .
2.
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.
reason pleasing. Greek. arestos. Occurs also 3 John 1:8; 3 John 1:8 :29 . 1 John 3:22 .
word. App-121 .
God. App-98 .
serve. App-190 .
tables. i.e. the business of distribution. Figure of speech Idioma. App-6 .
3.
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
look ye out. App-133 .
among = from. App-104 .
seven. App-10 .
men. Greek. aner. App-123 .
of honest report. Literally witnessed to, or attested. Greek. martureo. Compare Hebrews 11:2 , Hebrews 11:4 , Hebrews 11:5 , Hebrews 11:39 , Revised Version.
the Holy Ghost. App-101 . The texts omit "Holy". Compare Acts 6:10 .
over. App-104 .
business = need. Greek. chreia, as in Acts 2:45 ; Acts 4:35 .
4.
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
give ourselves continually. Greek. proskartereo, as in Acts 1:14 .
prayer. App-134 .
ministry. App-190 .
5.
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:
saying. Greek. logos, as in Acts 6:2 .
Stephen. Greek. Stephanos = a crown. All the names are Greek. These are called the seven deacons, but the word diakonos is not used in the Acts. See App-190 . Besides Stephen, Philip is the only one of whom anything is recorded (Acts 8:5 ; Acts 21:8 ).
faith. App-150 .
proselyte. See note on Matthew 23:15 .
Antioch. In Syria.
6.
Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
before = in the presence of apostles. App-189 .
prayed. App-131 .
laid, &c. Compare Numbers 27:18-23 .
7.
And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
company = crowd. Greek. ochlos.
the faith, i.e. in the Name. Compare Acts 3:16 .
8.
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
faith. The texts read "grace". App-184 .
power. App-172 .
wonders. App-176 .
miracles = signs. App-176 .
people. See note on Acts 2:47 .
9.
Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
arose. App-178 .
certain. App-123 .
of = out of. App-104 .
synagogue. App-120 .
Libertines. During the Civil Wars many Jews had been enslaved, and afterwards set free by their masters. A manumitted slave was called libertinus. These were probably the descendants of such freedmen who had returned to Jerusalem, after the decree of Tiberius expelling the Jews from Rome about 20 A.D.
of = from. App-104 .
Cilicia. A province of Asia Minor, of which Tarsus was the capital. See Acts 21:39 . Probably Saul was one of these disputers.
disputing. Greek. suzeteo, generally translated "question". Compare Mark 1:27 ; Mark 8:11 ; Mark 9:10 , Mark 9:14 , Mark 9:16 .
10.
And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
able = strong enough See Acts 15:10 .
resist. Greek. anthistemi. Compare Luke 21:15 .
spirit. See note on Acts 6:3 .
spake. App-121 .
11.
Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
suborned. Greek. hupoballo. Only here.
blasphemous. Greek. blasphemos. Here, Act 6:13 . 1 Timothy 1:13 . 2Ti 3:2 . 2 Peter 2:11 .
words. Greek. rhema. See note on Mark 9:32 .
Moses. See note on Acts 3:22 . Here meaning the Law.
12.
And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
stirred up. Greek. sunkineo. Only here. Frequent in medical works.
elders, &c. See note on Acts 4:5 , and App-189 .
caught = violently seized. Greek. sunarpazo. Only here, Acts 19:29 ; Acts 27:15 , and Luke 8:29 .
council. See note on Acts 4:15 .
13.
And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
witnesses. Greek. martur. See Acts 1:8 .
man. App-123 .
14.
For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
Jesus. App-98 .
of Nazareth = the Nazarene. Compare Acts 2:22 ; Acts 3:6 ; Acts 4:10 .
shall = will.
destroy. Greek. kataluo. Compare Acts 5:38 , Acts 5:39 .
this place , i.e. the temple, in one of the courts of which the Sanhedrin was sitting.
change. Greek. allasso. Here; Romans 1:23 . 1 Corinthians 15:51 , 1 Corinthians 15:52 .Galatians 1:4 , Galatians 1:20 . Hebrews 1:12 .
customs. Greek. ethos. Hence Engl, "ethics". Occurs twelve times. All in Luke and Acts, except John 19:40 . Hebrews 10:25 .
15.
And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
looking stedfastly = fastening their eyes. App-133 . Compare Acts 1:10 .
saw. App-133 .
as it had been = as if.