Bible Commentaries

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.

Of the Grecians — Ελληνισται , Graecists; such (say some) as were by birth and religion Hebrews, but dispersed among the Gentiles; those to whom James and Peter wrote their Epistles. Others think they were Greek proselytes, that were circumcised, and read the Septuagint.

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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.

It is not reason — αρεστον , an arrest or order, saith Erasmus; a plea, judgment, or sentence, saith Budaeus.

Serve tables — And do other such offices for the relief of the poor. Bishop Hooper is famous for his board of beggars, who till they were served every day with whole and wholesome meats, he would not himself sit down to dinner. Laudent te esurientium viscera, non ructantium opulenta convivia, said Jerome to Demetrius, "Charity is better than courtesy."

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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.

Full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom — i.e. Civil wisdom to manage the public stock, and to put all to the best for the relief of the necessitous saints. "I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions," Proverbs 8:12 .

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But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

To prayer, and to the ministry — Between these two they divided their time. An argument of their integrity in the ministry. If we were to preach only, saith the apostle, we could then wait upon tables; but the one half of our time is to be taken up in prayer, the other in preaching. So the priests of old: "They shall teach Jacob thy judgments," saith Moses, "they shall also put incense before thee," Deuteronomy 33:10 . So Paul begins, continues, and endeth his epistles with prayer. So Luther professeth that he profited more in the knowledge of the Scriptures by prayer in a short space, than by study in a longer; as John by weeping got the sealed book opened.

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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:

Prochorus, Nicanor, and Timon — Hi tres celebrantur seduli in lectitandis sacris. (Malcolm.) These three (as David’s first three worthies) are famous for their unweariableness in God’s work.

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Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

They laid their hands — So putting the blessing upon them. A very ancient rite, borrowed from the Church of the Old Testament.

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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.

A great company of the priests — Despair not therefore of the worst; God hath his time to call them. Wycliffe was a great enemy to the swarms of begging friars, with whom it was harder to make war than with the pope himself; whom he pronounced Antichrist, and made him lose in England his tenths and Peter’s pence. An annual tax or tribute of a penny from each householder having land of a certain value, paid before the Reformation to the papal see at Rome; also, a similar tribute paid by several northern lands. The institution of Peter’s pence has been attributed to Ine king of Wessex, 688-728, and to Offa king of Mercia, 755-94. It is mentioned as due by ancient law in a (Latin) letter of Canute in 1031. It was discontinued by statute in 1534. ŒD Howbeit, sundry of the frairs fell to him, and embraced his opinions; among whom, one that was the pope’s chaplain, professing that he came out of his order and out of the devil’s nest. (Speed.)

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And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

And Stephen, full of faith — He "using the office of a deacon well, did purchase to himself a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus," 1 Timothy 3:13 . A diligent man stays not long in a low place.

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