The Meaning of Acts 6:3 Explained

Acts 6:3

KJV: 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.

YLT: look out, therefore, brethren, seven men of you who are well testified of, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may set over this necessity,

Darby: Look out therefore, brethren, from among yourselves seven men, well reported of, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we will establish over this business:

ASV: Look ye out therefore, brethren, from among you seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Acts 6:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 6:1-15 - Meeting Murmuring Within And Persecution Without
The Grecians here mentioned were Jews who had lived abroad and spoke Greek. There were as yet no Gentiles in the Church. It was regarded as an annex to Judaism, and people had to become Jews before they were admitted to its privileges.
What a glimpse is here afforded of the simplicity and fervor of the primitive Church! The daily ministration of relief; the choice of godly men to attend to secular details; the prime importance of prayer and the ministry of the Word; the recognition by the Apostles of the rights of the people-all is so spiritual and so worthy of the era of the Holy Spirit. Alas, that so fair a dawn should ever have been overcast!
The Church must dedicate to God those whom she has chosen under the guidance of His Spirit. Stephen on the one hand, and Saul on the other, were the leaders of their respective parties. We see traces of the latter in the references to them of Cilicia, Acts 6:9. Stephen's enemies prevailed over him by brute force, but he was conqueror through the blood of the Lamb and the word of his testimony. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 6

1  The apostles, desirous to have the poor cared for,
2  as also careful themselves to dispense the word of God, the food of the soul,
3  recommend,
5  and with the church's consent ordain seven chosen men to the office of deaconship
7  The word of God prevails,
8  Stephen, full of faith and the Holy Spirit, confuting those with whom he disputed,
12  is brought before the council,
13  and falsely accused of blasphemy against the law and the temple

Greek Commentary for Acts 6:3

Of good report [μαρτυρουμενους]
Present passive participle of μαρτυρεω — martureō to bear witness to. Men with a good reputation as well as with spiritual gifts (the Holy Spirit and wisdom). [source]
We may appoint [καταστησομεν]
Future active indicative of κατιστημι — kathistēmi we shall appoint. The action of the apostles follows the choice by the church, but it is promised as a certainty, not as a possibility. The Textus Receptus has a first aorist active subjunctive here (καταστησωμεν — katastēsōmen). [source]
Of good report [μαρτυρουμένους]
Lit., attested, having witness borne them. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 6:3

Acts 10:22 Well reported of [marturoumenos)]
Present passive participle as in Acts 6:3. Cf. the other centurion in Luke 7:4. Nation (ethnous). Not laou for the speakers are Gentiles. Was warned First aorist passive of chrēmatizō old word for doing business, then consulting an oracle, and here of being divinely (word God not expressed) warned as in Matthew 2:12, Matthew 2:22; Luke 2:26; Hebrews 11:7. Then to be called or receive a name from one‘s business as in Acts 11:26; Romans 7:3. [source]
Acts 6:6 They laid their hands on them [επετηκαν αυτοις τας χειρας]
First aorist active indicative of επιτιτημι — epitithēmi Probably by the apostles who ratified the choice (Acts 6:3). The laying on of hands “was a symbol of the impartation of the gifts and graces which they needed to qualify them for the office. It was of the nature of a prayer that God would bestow the necessary gifts, rather than a pledge that they were actually conferred” (Hackett). [source]
Romans 5:19 Were made [κατεστάθησαν]
See on James 3:6. Used elsewhere by Paul only at Titus 1:5, in the sense of to appoint to office or position. This is its most frequent use in the New Testament. See Matthew 24:25; Acts 6:3; Acts 7:10; Hebrews 5:1, etc. The primary meaning being to set down, it is used in classical Greek of bringing to a place, as a ship to the land, or a man to a place or person; hence to bring before a magistrate (Acts 17:15). From this comes the meaning to set down as, i.e., to declare or show to be; or to constitute, make to be. So 2 Peter 1:8; James 4:4; James 3:6. The exact meaning in this passage is disputed. The following are the principal explanations: 1. Set down in a declarative sense; declared to be. 2. Placed in the category of sinners because of a vital connection with the first tranegressor. 3. Became sinners; were made. This last harmonizes with sinned in Romans 5:12. The disobedience of Adam is thus declared to have been the occasion of the death of all, because it is the occasion of their sin; but the precise nature of this relation is not explained. [source]
Philippians 1:1 Deacons [διακόνοις]
The word means servant, and is a general term covering both slaves and hired servants. It is thus distinct from δοῦλος bond-servantIt represents a servant, not in his relation, but in his activity. In the epistles it is often used specifically for a minister of the Gospel, 1 Corinthians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Ephesians 3:7. Here it refers to a distinct class of officers in the apostolic church. The origin of this office is recorded Acts 6:1-6. It grew out of a complaint of the Hellenistic or Graeco-Jewish members of the Church, that their widows were neglected in the daily distribution of food and alms. The Palestinian Jews prided themselves on their pure nationality and looked upon the Greek Jews as their inferiors. Seven men were chosen to superintend this matter, and generally to care for the bodily wants of the poor. Their function was described by the phrase to serve tables, Acts 6:2, and their appointment left the apostles free to devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word. The men selected for the office are supposed to have been Hellenists, from the fact that all their names are Greek, and one is especially described as a proselyte, Acts 6:5; but this cannot be positively asserted, since it was not uncommon for Jews to assume Greek names. See on Romans 16:5. The work of the deacons was, primarily, the relief of the sick and poor; but spiritual ministrations naturally developed in connection with their office. The latter are referred to by the term helps, 1 Corinthians 12:28. Stephen and Philip especially appear in this capacity, Acts href="/desk/?q=ac+6:8-11&sr=1">Acts 6:8-11. Such may also be the meaning of ministering, Romans 12:7. Hence men of faith, piety, and sound judgment were recommended for the office by the apostles, Acts 6:3; 1 Timothy 3:8-13. Women were also chosen as deaconesses, and Phoebe, the bearer of the epistle to the Romans, is commonly supposed to have been one of these. See on Romans 16:1. Ignatius says of deacons: “They are not ministers of food and drink, but servants ( ὐπηρέται , see on Matthew 5:25) of the Church of God” (“Epistle to Tralles,” 2). “Let all pay respect to the deacons as to Jesus Christ” (“Tralles,” 3). “Respect the deacons as the voice of God enjoins you” (“Epistle to Smyrna,” 8). In “The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles” the local churches or individual congregations are ruled by bishops and deacons. “Elect therefore for yourselves bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord; men meek and not lovers of money, and truthful and approved; for they too minister to you the ministry of the prophets and teachers. Therefore despise them not, for they are those that are the honored among you with the prophets and teachers” (xv., 1,2). Deaconesses are not mentioned. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
[source]

1 Timothy 5:10 Well reported of [μαρτυρουμένη]
Lit. born witness to or attested, as Acts 6:3; Acts 10:22; Hebrews 11:2. Comp. μαρτυρίαν καλὴν ἔχειν tohave good testimony, 1 Timothy 3:7. [source]
1 Timothy 3:7 A good report [μαρτυριαν καλὴν]
Comp. Acts 6:3. Not only does καλός occur in the Pastorals nearly twice as many times as in Paul, but the usage is different. Out of 16 instances in Paul, there is but one in which καλός isnot used substantively (Romans 7:16), while in the Pastorals it is, almost without exception, used adjectively. Μαρτυρίαν , better testimony. Comp. Titus 1:13. Not in Paul, who uses μαρτύριον . [source]
Titus 1:5 Ordain elders [καταστήσῃς πρεσβυτέρους]
Καθιστάναι appointor constitute. In Paul only Romans 5:19. For the sense here comp. Matthew 24:45, Matthew 24:47; Luke 12:14; Acts 6:3. The meaning of the injunction is, that Titus should appoint, out of the number of elderly men of approved Christian reputation, certain ones to be overseers ( ἐπίσκοποι ) of the churches in the several cities. The eldership was not a distinct church office. See on 1 Timothy 5:1. [source]
Hebrews 11:2 The elders obtained a good report [ἐμαρτυρηθήσαν οἱ πρεσβύτεροι]
The elders for the more common the fathers: the saints of the O.T. dispensation, many of whose names are recorded in this chapter. Εμαρτυρηθήσαν , lit. were borne witness to. God bore witness to them in the victory of their faith over all obstacles, and their characters and deeds as men of faith were recorded in Scripture. For this use of ματυρεῖν in the passive, see Acts 6:3; Acts 10:22; Acts 16:12; Romans 3:21; Hebrews 7:8, Hebrews 7:17. Notice that the statement in this verse does not begin the list of examples, which commences with Hebrews 11:4, but is closely attached to the definition in Hebrews 11:1as a comprehensive justification of it. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 6:3 mean?

Select therefore brothers men out from yourselves being well attested seven full of [the] Spirit and wisdom whom we will appoint over the task this
ἐπισκέψασθε δέ ἀδελφοί ἄνδρας ἐξ ὑμῶν μαρτυρουμένους ἑπτὰ πλήρεις Πνεύματος καὶ σοφίας οὓς καταστήσομεν ἐπὶ τῆς χρείας ταύτης

ἐπισκέψασθε  Select 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Middle, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἐπισκέπτομαι  
Sense: to look upon or after, to inspect, examine with the eyes.
ἀδελφοί  brothers 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀδελφός  
Sense: a brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother.
ἄνδρας  men 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀνήρ  
Sense: with reference to sex.
ἐξ  out  from 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐκ 
Sense: out of, from, by, away from.
ὑμῶν  yourselves 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
μαρτυρουμένους  being  well  attested 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: μαρτυρέω  
Sense: to be a witness, to bear witness, i.e. to affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something, or that he knows it because taught by divine revelation or inspiration.
ἑπτὰ  seven 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ἑπτά  
Sense: seven.
πλήρεις  full 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: πλήρης  
Sense: full, i.e. filled up (as opposed to empty).
Πνεύματος  of  [the]  Spirit 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: πνεῦμα  
Sense: a movement of air (a gentle blast.
σοφίας  wisdom 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: σοφία  
Sense: wisdom, broad and full of intelligence; used of the knowledge of very diverse matters.
οὓς  whom 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
καταστήσομεν  we  will  appoint 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: καθιστάνω 
Sense: to set, place, put.
ἐπὶ  over 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐπί  
Sense: upon, on, at, by, before.
χρείας  task 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: χρεία  
Sense: necessity, need.
ταύτης  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.