Acts 6:2

Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them They found that there was cause for the complaint, and at once prepared to provide a remedy. By "the multitude of the disciples" we are not to suppose that an attempt was made to gather every one who in Jerusalem called himself a Christian, but that a large and special meeting was convened, before which the Apostles laid their plan. The funds had been given by various persons, and were for the common relief; it was therefore fit that a change in the distributors should be considered in common.

and said, It is not reason The word properly means pleasing, and the idea meant to be conveyed is that it was not meetthat the Apostles should leave the higher functions to which they had been specially appointed, and spend their whole time in the business duties to which the present emergency had given rise.

that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables Better, " forsake the word." The verb in the original is a strong form, and indicates that the whole time of the twelve was being spent on this disbursement.

By tablesis meant the bench or counter at which the money was distributed. Both in Hebrew and Greek bankersare "tablers." Cf. "the tablesof the moneychangers" (Matthew 21:12).

The word for serveis diakonein, akin to the noun in the previous verse.