Acts 6:5

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: AND THE SAYING PLEASED THE WHOLE MULTITUDE: AND THEY CHOSE STEPHEN, A MAN FULL OF FAITH AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND PHILIP, AND PROCHORUS, AND NICANOR, AND TIMED, AND PARMENAS, AND NICOLAS A PROSELYTE OF ANTIOCH. Since these names are all Greek, it is not unlikely that the first six were all, of the Grecian class, with whom the "proselyte" Nicolas would be supposed to sympathize. If this was so, it would effectually restore mutual confidence. We cannot, however, be quite certain of it, as the Jews at this time often took Greek names. There is no ground whatever for the tradition that this Nicolas was the founder of the heretical sect of the "Nicolaitanes" ...

5._Stephen, full of faith. _Luke doth not, therefore, separate faith from the Spirit, as if it also were not a gift of the Spirit; but by Spirit he meaneth other gifts wherewith Stephen was endued, as zeal, wisdom, uprightness, brotherly love, diligence, integrity of a good conscience; secondly, he expresseth the principal kind. Therefore, he signifieth that Stephen did excel first in faith, and, secondly, in other virtues; so that it was evident that he had abundance of the grace of the Spirit. He doth not so greatly commend the rest, because undoubtedly they were inferior to him. Moreover, the ancient writers do, with great consent, affirm that this Nicholas, which was one of the seven, is the same of whom John maketh mention in the Revelation, (Revelation 2:15,) to wit, that he was an author of a filthy and wicked sect; forasmuch as he would have women to be common. For which cause

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 thoughts, cares, and time of the apostles. The persons chosen to serve tables must be duly qualified. They must be filled with gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost, necessary to rightly managing this trust; men of truth, and hating covetousness. All who are employed in the service of the church, ought to be commended to the Divine grace by the prayers of the church. They blessed them in the name of the Lord. The word and grace of God are greatly magnified, when those are wrought upon by it, who were least likely....

Verse Acts 6:5. _STEPHEN, A MAN FULL OF FAITH AND OF THE HOLY GHOST_] A person every way properly fitted for his work; and thus qualified to be the first _martyr_ of the Christian Church. _NICOLAS, A PROSELYTE OF ANTIOCH_] A heathen Greek, who had not only believed in the God of Israel, but had also received circumcision, and consequently was a _proselyte of the covenant_; for, had he been only a _proselyte of the gate_, the Jews could not have associated with him. On the word _proselyte_, see the note on Exodus 12:43. As this is the only proselyte mentioned here, we may presume that all the rest were _native Jews_. From this Nicolas, it is supposed that the sect called _Nicolaitans_, mentioned...

AND THE SAYING - “The word” - the counsel, or command, AND THEY CHOSE STEPHEN ... - A man who soon showed Acts 7 that he was in every way qualified for his office, and also suited to defend the cause of the Lord Jesus. This man had the distinguished honor of being the first Christian martyr. AND NICOLAS - From this man some of the fathers (Iren., lib. 1:27; Epiphanius, 1; Haeres., 5) says that the sect of the “Nicolaitanes,” mentioned with so much disapprobation Revelation 2:6, Revelation 2:15, took their rise. But the evidence of this is not clear. A PROSELYTE - A “prosel

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, _A.V._ _THE GRECIAN JEWS; _the Hellenists, _for this is the appellation of them in the Greek; it means properly those who spoke Greek or otherwise followed Greek usages, applied to foreigners, here of course to Jews. Of a similar form and meaning is the word "to Judaize," translated "to live as do the Jews" (A.V., Galatians 2:14), and the forms "to Demosthenize," "to Platonize," "to Atticize," etc. The Hellenists were those Jews of the dispersion who lived in countries where Greek was spoken, and who th

AND THE SAYING PLEASED THE WHOLE MULTITUDE,.... The speech the apostles made took with them; all things they proposed were universally approved of; the whole body of the church came into it at once unanimously; they all judged it highly reasonable, that the apostles should be eased of the burden in taking care of the poor, and that it should be transferred to some other persons, and they fixed on the following: AND THEY CHOSE STEPHEN, A MAN FULL OF FAITH, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST; he was a man eminent for his faith in Christ, and his faithfulness to him, and in everything he was concerned, and for his courage and boldness in the cause of Christ and for other gifts and graces of the Spirit, with which he was filled; he was, it is very likely, the most eminent person of all the seven, and is therefore named first; he is afterwards taken notice of, and was the first that suffered martyrdom fo...

CHOSE It is beautiful to see that these were all Hellenists, as the Grecian names show....

ACTS 6:5 plh,qouj The Western text (D ith copG67) adds tw/n maqhtw/n lest panto.j tou/ plh,qouj be taken to refer to the non-Christian multitude....

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 and from within Satan pressed upon that which was of God. While the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit acted in Grace and power, the enemy came in to disturb. It is still so. Whenever there is a door opened there are also many adversaries (1 Corinthians 16:9). The flesh manifested itself in murmuring. The assembly took care of the poor; widows being specially helpless, were the objects of daily ministrations. The Jews themselves in connection with the synagogue had special funds for them. They must h