1The apostles, that the poor might not be neglected, recommend, 5and with the church's consent ordain seven chosen men deacons. 7The word of God prevaileth. 8Stephen, full of faith and the Holy Ghost, confuting those with whom he disputed, is brought before the council, and by suborned evidence falsely accused of blasphemy against the law and the temple.
1AND 1in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring 2of the Greciansa against the Hebrews, because their widows were 3neglected in the daily 4ministration.
1 Namely, when the apostles had been cast into prison.
2 Gr. Hellenistai. These were Jews by descent and religion, but were called Greeks, because in the dispersion they were born in the Grecian or pagan countries, and because they used the Greek language and translation of the Bible, who were afterward converted to the Christian religion. See Acts 9:29 and 11:19, 20. But the other Jews, who used the Hebrew Bible, were called Hebrews. See also 2 Cor. 11:22.
a Greek-speaking Jews*
3 Gr. overlooked.
4 Gr. diakonia; namely, complaining either that their widows were not used for the service of the poor, or that their poor widows were not so well taken care for as the widows of the Hebrews.
2Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, Itb is not 5reason that we should 6leave the word of God, and 7serve tables.
b Exod. 18:17.
5 Gr. pleasing; that is, a thing which cannot please us.
6 Namely, because we, being hindered by ministering to the poor, cannot so frequently and so conveniently attend to the preaching of God’s Word, whereunto we are principally called.
7 Namely, to which the money and the food for the relief of the poor was brought and distributed, or else the friendly feasts after the Lord’s Supper, which were then held amongst the Christians, Acts 2:46.
38Wherefore,c brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full 9of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may 10appoint over this business.
8 That is, choose out seven men for this service.
c Deut. 1:13; Acts 1:21; 16:2; 1 Tim. 3:7.
9 That is, of the gifts of the Holy Ghost, needful to execute such a ministry with faithfulness and prudence.
10 That is, put in charge.
4But we will 11give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
11 That is, continue constantly and earnestly, Acts 1:14.
5¶And the 12saying pleased 13the whole multitude: and 14they chose 15Stephen, a man fulld16of faith and of the Holy Ghost, ande17Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and 18Nicolas 19a proselyte of Antioch:
12 Or, the matter. Hebraism. Gr. the word.
13 Gr. before all the multitude.
14 The election was made by the church, and the installation or ordination by the apostles, verse 6.
15 This name, as also the six following, are all Greek names, from which some conclude that, the better to take away the complaints of the Greeks, it was thought good to choose the deacons out of the Grecian Jews.
d Acts 11:24.
16 Or, faithfulness, which is principally required in this office.
e Acts 21:8.
17 Of him see more in detail in Acts 8; 21.
18 Some ancient teachers think that this was the same Nicolas of whom we read in Rev. 2:15; but this is uncertain.
19 Gr. proselytos; that is, a new-comer from the heathen to the Jewish religion. See Mat. 23:15.
6Whom they set beforef the apostles: and when 20they had prayed, they 21laidgtheir hands on them.
f Acts 1:23.
20 Namely, apostles. See the like in Acts 8:17.
21 This custom of the imposition of hands was usual with the Jews when they blessed anyone, Gen. 48:14, and when they were to sacrifice the beasts, thereby, as it were, to appropriate them to God, Lev. 1:4, and at the installation of the offices, Num. 27:18; Deut. 34:9. Christ also used the same in blessing, Mat. 19:13, and the church in the installation of ministers, thereby to dedicate them to God for His service, and to wish the blessing of God unto them. See 1 Tim. 5:22. Also the apostles in giving the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost, Acts 8:17.
g Acts 8:17; 13:3; 1 Tim. 4:14; 5:22; 2 Tim. 1:6.
7Andh the word of God 22increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the 23priests were obedient to the 24faith.
h Acts 19:20.
22 That is, grew, in respect of the multitude of places where it was preached, as of persons which embraced it, Acts 12:24.
23 Namely, of the common priest, who were very many among the Jews, Ezra 2:36, whereof a good part was converted; for, almost all the chief priests were and remained the most vehement enemies of the doctrine of the Gospel.
24 That is, the doctrine of faith, Gal. 1:23.
8And Stephen, full of 25faith and 26power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
25 Here the word faith is differently taken than in the previous verse; namely, as for knowledge and consent to the doctrine, as well for a firm trust in the promise of the Gospel.
26 That is, of the excellent gifts of the Holy Ghost, whereby He works powerfully amongst the people.
9¶Then there arose certain of the 27synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the 28Libertines, and 29Cyrenians, and 30Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, 31disputing with Stephen.
27 Within the great city of Jerusalem there were many synagogues and schools, which were all distinguished by their special names, like as with us at this day, the colleges within the universities.
28 This, as it seems, was a synagogue of the Italian Jews. For, the Italians and Latinists call those Libertines, who, having been slaves, have been set at liberty. Pompey, having subdued the city of Jerusalem, had carried away many Jews for slaves unto Rome, whose posterity, as Philo testifies, were almost all set at liberty by the Emperor Tiberias, and it was permitted them to inhabit a part of the city of Rome over the Tiber and to build synagogues there. So that these Jews, being Libertines, seem also to have had a synagogue at Jerusalem, named after their occasion.
29 That is, Jews, who lived in Africa in the city Cyrene, situated in Libya.
30 That is, Jews, who lived at Alexandria in Egypt, and who were at Jerusalem.
31 That is, disputed with Stephen about the business of religion.
10Andi they were not able 32to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
i Exod. 4:12; Isa. 54:17; Luke 21:15.
32 That is, to overcome. See Mat. 10:19; Luke 21:15.
11Thenj they 33subornedk men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
j Mat. 26:59.
33 Gr. they cast under; when they could do nothing by truth, they turn themselves to falsehood. See the like Mat. 26:59.
k bribed.
12And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
13And 34set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against 35this holy place, and the law:
34 Namely, against him in the council.
35 Namely, Jerusalem or the temple, or both.
14For we have heard him say, that 36this Jesus of Nazareth shall 37destroy this place, and shall change 38the customs which Moses delivered us.
36 Stephen had not said that Jesus would do this Himself, but that by His judgment and dispensation this would be done by the Gentiles, Luke 19:43.
37 This also came so to pass about forty years after by the Romans. Therefore he had said nothing else but the truth.
38 That is, the ceremonial law, and which properly concerned the Jewish state, which was also the truth.
15And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been 39the face of an angel.
39 That is, shining, or sending forth rays from it. For, with such faces the angels used to appear, Mat. 28:3.