Verse-by-Verse Commentary
The Book of Acts
Chapter 6: Prayer and the Word
As the church grows, a practical problem threatens its unity: some widows are being overlooked in the daily distribution. The apostles solve it wisely, appointing seven trusted men to serve tables so they themselves can give their attention to prayer and the ministry of the word. The result is not less ministry but more: the word of God spreads, and the number of disciples multiplies. Among the seven is Stephen, full of faith and power, who will soon become the church's first martyr. Acts 6 shows healthy leadership, shared ministry, and the unstoppable spread of the word.
About This Commentary
This is a verse-by-verse study of Acts chapter 6. For each section you will find the KJV text, word studies that sharpen the meaning, plain explanation, and a Gospel Focus. The church meets a practical need wisely, and the word of God spreads. Every Scripture quotation is from the King James Version.
Setting the Stage
Neglected Widows
As the church grows, a complaint arises that some widows are being overlooked in the daily distribution of food, threatening the unity of the young church.
The Seven Chosen
The apostles appoint seven trusted, Spirit-filled men to oversee the practical work, so that they can devote themselves to prayer and the word.
The Word Spreads
Wise delegation frees the apostles for their calling, and the outcome is growth: the word of God spreads and the disciples multiply greatly.
Stephen
Among the seven is Stephen, full of faith and power, who does great wonders and, opposed by false witnesses, is brought before the council.
Prayer and the Ministry of the Word (Acts 6:2-4)
The apostles guard their calling by sharing the work with others.
We Will Give Ourselves to Prayer
"And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 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. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 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: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them."
Greek Study
Facing a dispute over the daily distribution, the Twelve refuse to "leave the word of God, and serve tables," and appoint seven to the task so they may "give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word" -- diakonia tou logou. The word diakonia (service, ministry) is used for both serving tables and serving the word, dignifying both, yet the apostles guard their primary calling. Prayer and the word are the irreplaceable work of spiritual leadership; everything else, however necessary, must be delegated so that these are not crowded out.
Explanation
The first internal crisis of the church -- Greek-speaking widows neglected in the daily distribution -- is met not by the apostles abandoning their calling but by wise delegation. Seven men "full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom" are chosen to handle the practical need, freeing the Twelve for prayer and preaching. The solution honors both the ministry of the word and the ministry of mercy, and it models Spirit-led problem-solving: appoint gifted, Spirit-filled servants and keep first things first. The result (v. 7) is not slowed growth but explosive increase.
Gospel Focus
The apostles faced a real need, and their response is a model of wise leadership. They did not say the distribution to widows did not matter; they called it a good work that required trustworthy men. But they also knew their own priority: "it is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables" (verse 2). So they delegated, appointing seven, and gave themselves "continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." Notice the order and the priority: prayer first, then the word. Spiritual leaders must guard their primary calling and not let even good and necessary tasks crowd out prayer and the ministry of God's word. And notice too that the church honored practical service; the seven were needed and valued. Healthy ministry both keeps first things first and shares the work so that the whole body serves.
The Word of God Spread (Acts 6:7)
The fruit of wise delegation is greater growth, not less.
The Number of the Disciples Multiplied
"And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith."
Greek Study
Luke marks a milestone with a growth-report: "the word of God increased" -- euxanen, grew, spread like a living, fruitful thing -- "and the number of the disciples multiplied... greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith." The word of God is pictured as organic and unstoppable, growing wherever it is sown. Such summary statements punctuate Acts (6:7; 12:24; 19:20), tracing the advance of the gospel. Even priests -- guardians of the old order -- are swept into obedience, proof that no barrier holds against the growing word.
Explanation
This single verse is one of Luke's progress-markers, showing that solving the church's internal tension released fresh growth. When the apostles were freed to pray and preach, and the practical needs were faithfully met, the word spread and disciples multiplied -- even winning "a great company of the priests." Healthy structure serves mission; order in the church is not opposed to growth but often the means of it. The conversion of priests signals that the gospel is penetrating the very heart of Judaism, setting the stage for the conflict that will fall on Stephen.
Gospel Focus
The result of the apostles guarding their calling and the church sharing the work was not stagnation but explosive growth: "the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly." When leaders are freed to pray and preach, and the body is mobilized to serve, the word advances. Notice that Luke describes the growth as the word itself spreading; it is the living, powerful word of God that produces the increase, not merely human strategy. And a striking detail: "a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith", even those most invested in the old order were being converted. The word of God, freely proclaimed by a healthy church, prevails. Where prayer and the ministry of the word are given their proper place, God gives the growth.
Stephen (Acts 6:8)
One of the seven steps forward as a man mightily used by God.
Great Wonders Among the People
"And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel."
Greek Study
Stephen, one of the seven, is described as "full of faith and power" doing "great wonders and miracles" (terata kai semeia, wonders and signs) -- the same phrase used of the apostles, showing the Spirit's gifts were not confined to the Twelve. When his opponents "were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake," they resort to false witnesses. The pattern mirrors Jesus' own trial: a Spirit-filled servant, irrefutable in argument, condemned by lies. The power that filled the apostles now fills a table-server, for the Spirit is poured out on all flesh.
Explanation
Stephen, appointed merely to serve tables, proves to be a mighty preacher and wonder-worker -- evidence that the Spirit distributes His gifts freely, not by office. His bold witness in the synagogues provokes fierce opposition, and unable to answer his Spirit-given wisdom, his enemies suborn false witnesses to charge him with blasphemy against the temple and the law. As the council fixes its eyes on him, they see "his face as it had been the face of an angel" -- a man radiant with the presence of God even as he stands accused. The stage is set for the church's first martyrdom and the sermon that provokes it.
Gospel Focus
Stephen was chosen to "serve tables," yet he was "full of faith and power" and "did great wonders and signs among the people." This is a beautiful truth: God is not confined to official titles. A man appointed to practical service became one of the mightiest witnesses in the early church and its first martyr. There is no such thing as an insignificant servant in God's kingdom; the Spirit-filled life bears fruit wherever it is placed. Stephen was "full of faith and of the Holy Ghost" (verse 5), and when opposition came, his opponents "were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake" (verse 10). The same Spirit that filled the apostles filled the table-servers. Faithfulness in a humble task, joined to fullness of the Spirit, made Stephen a vessel of great power. God looks not for impressive titles but for lives full of faith and the Spirit.
Chapter 6 in Review
Acts 6 shows a growing church meeting a practical challenge with wisdom. When some widows are overlooked in the daily distribution, the apostles do not abandon their calling to prayer and the ministry of the word, nor do they neglect the need; they appoint seven trusted, Spirit-filled men to oversee the work. The result is not less ministry but more: the word of God spreads, the disciples multiply greatly, and even many priests come to faith. Among the seven is Stephen, full of faith and power, who does great wonders and is soon opposed by false witnesses.
For the Apostolic reader, this chapter models healthy church life. Leaders must guard their primary calling of prayer and the word, while the whole body shares in ministry, and every task, even serving tables, matters and is honored. The living word of God, freely proclaimed by such a church, prevails and multiplies. And Stephen reminds us that there are no insignificant servants: a man appointed to a humble task, full of the Holy Spirit, became a mighty witness. Keep first things first, share the work, and let the Spirit fill every servant.
- Leaders must guard their calling to prayer and the ministry of the word above all else.
- Every task matters; the church honored practical service and shared the ministry.
- Wise delegation frees the church for growth: the word of God spread and multiplied.
- There are no insignificant servants; Stephen, chosen to serve tables, was full of faith and power.
Questions for Reflection
- Are you letting even good tasks crowd out prayer and the word in your own life or ministry?
- Do you value practical service, or only the visible, up-front roles?
- Stephen was full of faith and power in a humble task. Are you seeking to be full of the Spirit wherever God has placed you?
References & Sources
Scripture is quoted from the King James Version (KJV). Supporting passages are listed so every claim can be verified in its own setting. If anything here does not look right, a verse, a reference, or a wording, please tell us at info@FruitBearers.net. Thank you for helping us keep Bible Learning error free.
- The choosing of the seven; prayer and the word: Acts 6:1-6.
- The word of God spreading and multiplying: Acts 6:7; 12:24; 19:20.
- Stephen full of faith, the Spirit, and power: Acts 6:5, 8-10.
- Every member of the body serving: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27.
- Devotion to prayer and the word: Acts 2:42.