Acts 6:5 · Bible study
Acts 6:5 Commentary: The Choosing of the Seven Deacons
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why these seven men were chosen, the significance of Stephen's faith and Spirit, and Nicolaus the proselyte from Antioch.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The congregation unanimously chose seven Greek-named men to oversee food distribution, resolving a ethnic conflict and demonstrating unity.
- Key words: 'full of faith and of the Holy Spirit' (πλήρης πίστεως καὶ πνεύματος ἁγίου), Stephen is filled with trust in God and the Spirit's power, not just administrative skill.
- Main debate: Whether all seven were Hellenists or a mix, and whether Nicolaus later founded the heretical Nicolaitans.
- Theological theme: The church's practical service and spiritual leadership must work together to maintain unity and spread the gospel.
- Best use: A model for resolving internal conflicts, selecting leaders based on character, and valuing service roles often overlooked.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
WEB World English Bible 2000
These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch,
KJV King James Version 1769
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:
ASV American Standard Version 1901
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 Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaüs a proselyte of Antioch;
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And the thing was pleasing before all the multitude, and they did choose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and [the] Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch,
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And the saying was liked by all the 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.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y plugo el parecer á toda la multitud; y eligieron á Esteban, varón lleno de fe y de Espíritu Santo, y á Felipe, y á Prócoro, y á Nicanor, y á Timón, y á Parmenas, y á Nicolás, prosélito de Antioquía:
E esta palavra foi do agrado diante de toda a multidão, e escolheram a Estêvão, homem cheio de fé e do Espírito Santo, e Filipe, Prócoro, Nicanor, Timom, Parmenas e a Nicolão, o prosélito de Antioquia.
Cette proposition plut à toute l’ assemblée. Ils élurent Étienne, homme plein de foi et d’Esprit-Saint, Philippe, Prochore, Nicanor, Timon, Parménas, et Nicolas, prosélyte d’Antioche.
Und die Rede gefiel der ganzen Menge wohl; und sie erwählten Stephanus, einen Mann voll Glaubens und heiligen Geistes, und Philippus und Prochorus und Nikanor und Timon und Parmenas und Nikolaus, den Judengenossen von Antiochien.
En dit woord behaagde aan al de menigte; en zij verkoren Stefanus, een man vol des geloofs en des Heiligen Geestes, en Filippus, en Prochorus, en Nicanor, en Timon, en Parmenas, en Nicolaus, een Jodengenoot van Antiochie;
E questo ragionamento piacque a tutta la moltitudine; ed elessero Stefano, uomo pieno di fede e di Spirito Santo, Filippo, Procoro, Nicanore, Timone, Parmena e Nicola, proselito di Antiochia;
I podobała się ta rzecz onemu wszystkiemu mnóstwu. I obrali Szczepana, męża pełnego wiary i Ducha Świętego, i Filipa, i Prochora, i Nikanora, i Tymona, i Parmena, i Mikołaja, nowonawróconego Antyjocheńczyka.
И угодно было это предложение всему собранию; и избрали Стефана, мужа, исполненного веры и Духа Святаго, и Филиппа, и Прохора, и Никанора, и Тимона, и Пармена, и Николая Антиохийца, обращенного из язычников;
大眾 都喜悅 這話，就 揀選 了司提反，乃是大有信心、 聖 靈 充滿 的人，又 揀選腓利、 伯羅哥羅、 尼迦挪、 提門、 巴米拿，並 進猶太教的 安提阿人 尼哥拉，
And this saying was pleasing to all of them: and they made selection of Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicolas of Antioch, who had become a Jew:
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Acts 6:5
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that the apostles' proposal resolved a serious internal conflict. The whole multitude was pleased, showing a unified response (Barnes, Gill). The seven names are all Greek, which most scholars take as evidence that the group consisted of Hellenists, Greek-speaking Jewish Christians, chosen to reassure the complaining Greek-speaking widows (Wesley, JFB). Yet Vincent notes it was common for Jews to have both a Hebrew and a Greek name, so the list does not prove all were Hellenists. Stephen is singled out as 'a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.' Calvin explains that this does not separate faith from the Spirit, but names faith as the chief gift alongside other graces. Stephen's description matches the qualifications the apostles had set in verse 3: men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. The special mention of Nicolaus as 'a proselyte of Antioch' indicates he had converted from paganism to Judaism before becoming a Christian (Clarke, Barnes). That the only proselyte is named suggests the other six were native-born Jews (Gill). The choice thus aimed to restore trust across cultural lines.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- All seven were Hellenists: All Greek names; Wesley and JFB argue this choice would restore trust after the Hellenist complaint.
- Mixed group of Hebrews and Hellenists: Vincent notes Jews often had two names; Greek names don't prove all were Hellenists.
- Nicolaus as founder of Nicolaitans: Irenaeus, Epiphanius, and later Calvin affirm the connection; Revelation 2:6,15 condemns the Nicolaitans.
- Nicolaus not the founder: Cambridge Bible and Lightfoot see insufficient evidence; Clement of Alexandria gives Nicolaus a good character.
What is clear: The selection of seven Greek-named men, including a proselyte, was a practical and symbolic move to address ethnic tension and demonstrate the church's commitment to unity and care for all members.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Composition of the seven | All seven names are Greek, indicating they were likely Hellenists or at least had Greek cultural connections. | Wesley and JFB argue they were all Hellenists. Vincent says the names alone don't prove that; many Jews had both Hebrew and Greek names, so some could have been Hebrews. |
| Stephen's description 'full of faith and of the Holy Spirit' | Stephen was exceptionally gifted, the only one singled out individually, preparing readers for his later martyrdom. | Calvin sees it as distinguishing faith as the chief gift from other graces; no significant debate recorded in the supplied sources. |
| Nicolaus and the Nicolaitans | Ancient writers (Irenaeus, Epiphanius) connected Nicolaus to the heretical sect in Revelation 2:6,15. | The Cambridge Bible and Lightfoot doubt the connection, pointing to lack of clear evidence. Clarke notes Clement of Alexandria gave Nicolaus a good character. |
| The apostles' role | The apostles proposed the plan, set qualifications, and later prayed and laid hands on the seven, confirming their appointment. | No significant debate; all sources agree the apostles retained oversight while delegating practical work. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The crisis that led to this election is described in Acts 6:1. The Hellenists, Jews who spoke Greek and lived outside Palestine, complained that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. The Hebrews, Aramaic-speaking Palestinian Jews, may have unintentionally favored their own. The apostles proposed a solution: seven men to oversee this 'serving of tables,' freeing the apostles for prayer and preaching.
All seven names in verse 5 are Greek. This was likely a deliberate move to satisfy the Hellenists. As Jamieson-Fausset-Brown puts it, choosing men of the 'Grecian' class 'would effectually restore mutual confidence.' The men had to be 'of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom' (v.3). Stephen is highlighted as especially full of faith and the Spirit, which prepares for his powerful ministry and martyrdom in Acts 7.
Nicolaus is described as 'a proselyte of Antioch.' A proselyte was a Gentile who converted fully to Judaism, accepting circumcision and the whole law (Clarke). Antioch in Syria was a major Hellenistic city, later famous as the place where believers were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). That Nicolaus came from such a cosmopolitan center, and that he was a former pagan, shows the early church's reach across ethnic and religious boundaries. His inclusion may have been meant to give a voice to Gentile converts or to demonstrate that the church valued converts from all backgrounds.
Later in Acts 6 we learn that Stephen performed great wonders, and Philip became an evangelist. The other five are not mentioned again in Scripture. But their faithful service, mostly unrecorded, reminds readers that many who serve quietly are essential to the church's health.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries and lexical data note no significant textual variants for Acts 6:5. The verse is well attested in the manuscript tradition. The only minor variation across translations is the rendering of 'full of faith and of the Holy Spirit', some add 'the' before Holy Spirit, but the meaning is unchanged.
Reception History
From the early church onward, Acts 6:5 was read as the model for selecting deacons. Irenaeus and Epiphanius (2nd, 4th centuries) identified Nicolaus as the founder of the Nicolaitans, a view repeated by many medieval commentators. During the Reformation, Calvin used the verse to caution that even the apostles could be deceived in choosing leaders, since Nicolaus later went astray, a warning against negligence. Protestant commentators like Matthew Henry highlighted the unity and wisdom of the apostles' solution. In modern times, the passage is frequently used in discussions of church governance, conflict resolution, and the importance of character in leadership. The naming of the seven, most of whom are never mentioned again, is also cited to honor the quiet service of countless believers throughout history.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Unity through wise delegation. The apostles did not ignore the complaint. They proposed a structure that honored both the spiritual priority of prayer and preaching and the practical needs of the poor. The whole multitude agreed, showing that wise leadership can heal division.
- Character above ethnicity. The seven were chosen for being full of the Spirit and wisdom, not for their social status. Greek names and a proselyte among them signal that the church valued spiritual fitness over cultural background.
- Faithfulness in obscurity. Most of these seven deacons are never named again in Scripture. Yet their one act of service helped the word of God increase (v.7). God uses ordinary, faithful people to build His kingdom.
Five-point outline
- The need: a murmuring healed. Verse 1 records tension between Hellenists and Hebrews. The apostles' response shows that internal complaints must be addressed openly, not dismissed.
- The test: qualifications that matter. Verse 3 sets the bar: good reputation, full of the Spirit, wisdom. This remains the standard for church leaders today.
- The selection: community ownership. The multitude chose them (v.5). The congregation had a voice, and they chose men they trusted.
- The standout: Stephen. He is the only one described individually as full of faith and the Holy Spirit. This introduces his later role as the first martyr (Acts 7).
- The outsider turned leader: Nicolaus. A former pagan, now a deacon. His placement shows the gospel crosses all boundaries.
Illustration hooks
- A congregation faces a conflict over how funds are distributed to needy families. Instead of blaming, leaders propose a committee with representatives from each group, restoring trust.
- A church plant in a multicultural neighborhood. The new leaders include immigrants and longtime residents, mirroring the diversity of the community.
- A volunteer who sets up chairs every Sunday is never thanked publicly, but his consistency enables the whole service to run smoothly. Like the lesser-known deacons, his labor matters.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why can't the apostles just handle everything themselves? What is the biblical pattern for leadership?
- How do we choose leaders today? Are we looking at character or just skills?
- What happened to Nicolaus? Was he connected to the Nicolaitans in Revelation 2?
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows how the early church solved a real conflict without ignoring it or letting it fester. The apostles proposed a plan that honored everyone's calling and needs. As you discuss, consider what your group can learn about handling disagreements and choosing leaders.
Discussion questions
- Read Acts 6:1-5. What was the problem, and why was it serious?
- Why did the apostles think it was wrong for them to 'serve tables'? What does this teach about focusing on primary callings?
- The seven men were chosen by the congregation, not appointed by the apostles. Why is this important for church health?
- Stephen is described as 'full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.' What does that look like in a leader today?
- Nicolaus was a proselyte, a convert from paganism to Judaism before becoming a Christian. Why do you think Luke specifically mentions this?
- What does the ethnic diversity of the seven (all Greek names) say about the church's response to the complaint?
- In what practical ways can your small group or church ensure that all members, especially the overlooked, are cared for?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 41:37 | The thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. |
| Proverbs 15:1 | A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. |
| Proverbs 15:23 | Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time! |
| Proverbs 25:11 | A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. |
| Proverbs 25:12 | As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear. |
| Micah 3:8 | But as for me, I am full of power by Yahweh’s Spirit, and of judgment, and of might, to declare to Jacob his disobedience, and to Israel his sin. |
| Matthew 23:15 | Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of Gehenna as yourselves. |
| Acts 6:3 | Therefore, select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that early church fathers connected Nicolas, one of the seven deacons, with the heretical Nicolaitans condemned in Revelation, though he finds the evidence for this link uncertain. He also highlights that Nicolas was a proselyte—a convert from paganism to Judaism before embracing Christianity—while the other deacons were native-born Jews.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin stresses that faith is itself a gift of the Spirit, not something separate from the Spirit's other graces. Stephen excelled first in faith and then in other virtues, showing an abundance of the Spirit. Calvin also notes that even the apostles could be deceived in choosing a minister, so believers should not be overly troubled if their own careful choices sometimes go wrong.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator argues that the narrative's specific details—choosing seven men with Greek names to oversee the
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note highlights that the seven chosen were not just any men but those "full of faith and of the Holy Ghost," indicating spiritual maturity was essential for serving tables. It also notes Nicolas was a Gentile convert to Judaism, showing the early church already included diverse backgrounds in leadership.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that all seven chosen deacons had Greek names, suggesting they were Hellenistic Jews from the very group that had complained. By selecting men from the complainants, the church showed prudence and condescension, wisely making those who were dissatisfied feel at ease.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
Stephen, &c.—As this and the following names are all Greek, it is likely they were all of the "Grecian" class, which would effectually restore mutual confidence.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange sees this dispute between Hellenist and Hebrew believers as the early church's most dangerous internal crisis, worse than persecution because ethnicity and cultural habits divided the congregation itself. He emphasizes that the apostles did not impose a pre-planned office but let practical needs shape an organic development of church structure, while they themselves refused to abandon prayer and preaching for administrative work.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that the church's growth brought an unexpected problem: internal friction between Greek-speaking and Hebrew-speaking believers. He calls this an unhappy disagreement that could have caused real harm, but was wisely settled in time. The apostles protected their calling to prayer and preaching by delegating the daily service to qualified men.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent cautions readers not to assume the seven men chosen in Acts were all Greek-speaking Jews just because their names are Greek. He explains that Jews commonly bore both a Hebrew and a Greek name, so the group was likely a mix of Hebrews and Hellenists.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that the seven men chosen were all Hellenists, as their Greek names indicate. He highlights that one, Nicholas, was a proselyte, a convert to Judaism. This choice would have made the proselytes in the church more willing to bring their needs to him.