ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 6:1 The Witness beyond Jerusalem. Beginning with Greek-speaking Jewish Christians in Jerusalem (Acts 6:1), the Christian gospel was proclaimed to an ever-widening circle—to Samaria (Acts 8:4), to an Ethiopian (Acts 8:26), to a Gentile God-fearer (Acts 10:1), and to the Gentiles of... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 6:5 STEPHEN and PHILIP will become prominent in Acts 1:1. The NT makes no further mention of the other five. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 6:6 The apostles confirmed the congregational election when THEY PRAYED AND LAID THEIR HANDS ON THEM. Laying on of hands is done in connection with several things in Acts 1:1: healing (Acts 9:17), the gift of the Spirit (Acts 8:18; Acts 9:17; Acts 19:6), and commissioning to a mini... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 6:7 A GREAT MANY OF THE PRIESTS became Christians. The lower ranks of the priesthood numbered in the thousands. Many were poor. They may have first been attracted to Christians by their charity, provided under the guidance of the newly appointed deacons (vv. Acts 6:1). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var i... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 6:8 Stephen ministered to the needy and also taught the Word and performed WONDERS AND SIGNS. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 6:9 Stephen preached to Hellenistic Jews (see note on v. 1) and Greek-speakers like himself. FREEDMEN were Jews who had been enslaved and then granted freedom. CYRENIANS and ALEXANDRIANS represent North Africa. Those in CILICIA AND ASIA represent the area of modern Turkey. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ v... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 6:14 Stephen must have referred to what Jesus said about destroying the temple and rebuilding it in three days (Mark 14:58). John clarified this as Jesus referring to his body (John 2:19). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, im... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 6:15 LIKE THE FACE OF AN ANGEL. Apparently the brightness of the glory of God was on Stephen’s face (compare Exodus 34:29; Matthew 17:2). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]