Acts 6 · Verse 5

Acts 6:5

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:

Acts 6:5, King James Version

Acts 6:5 in other translations

BSB	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	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,
ASV	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	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	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,
BBE	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:
Webster	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 Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

What does Acts 6:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

5. 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.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 5. And the saying. The word--the counsel, or command.

And they chose Stephen, etc. A man who soon showed (Acts 7) that he was every way qualified for his office, and fitted to defend also the cause of the Lord Jesus. This man had the distinguished honour of being the first Christian martyr, Acts 7.

And Nicolas. From this man some of the Fathers (Ire. lib. i. 27; Epipha. 1; Haeres. 5) say that the sect of the Nicolaitanes, mentioned with so much disapprobation, (Rev 2:6,15,) took their rise. But the evidence of this is not clear.

A proselyte. A proselyte is one who is converted from one religion to another. Mt 23:15. The word does not mean here that he was a convert to Christianity--which was true--but that he had been converted at Antioch from paganism to the Jewish religion. As this is the only proselyte mentioned among the seven deacons, it is evident that the others were native-born Jews, though a part of them might have been born out of Palestine, and have been of the denomination of Grecians, or Hellenists.

Of Antioch. This city, often mentioned in the New Testament, (Acts 11:19,20,26, 15:22,35, Gal 2:11, etc.,) was situated in Syria on the river Orontes, and was formerly called Riblath. It is not mentioned in the Old Testament, but is frequently mentioned in the Apocrypha. It was built by Seleucus Nicanor, A. D. 301, and was named Antioch, in honour of his father Antiochus. It became the seat of empire of the Syrian kings of the Macedonian race, and afterwards of the Roman governors of the eastern provinces. In this place the disciples of Christ were first called Christians, Acts 11:26. Josephus says it was the third city in size of the Roman provinces, being inferior only to Seleucia and Alexandria. It was long, indeed, the most powerful city of the East. The city was almost square, had many gates, was adorned with fine fountains, and possessed great fertility of soil and commercial opulence. It was subject to earthquakes, and was often almost destroyed by them. In A.D. 588, above sixty thousand persons perished in it in this manner. In A.D. 970, an army of one hundred thousand Saracens besieged it, and took it. In 1268 it was taken possession of by the Sultan of Egypt, who demolished it, and placed it under the dominion of the Turk. It is now called Antakia; and till the year 1822, it occupied a remote corner of the ancient enclosure of its walls, its splendid buildings being reduced to hovels, and its population living in Turkish debasement. It contains now about ten thousand inhabitants.-- Robinson's Calmet. This city should be distinguished from Antioch in Pisidia, also mentioned in the New Testament, Acts 13:14.

(*) "saying" "Words" (a) "full of faith" Acts 11:24 (+) "Holy Ghost" "Holy Spirit" (b) "Philip" Acts 8:5,26, 21:6 (c) "Nicolas" Rev 2:6,15

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 5 Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost - A person every way properly fitted for his work; and thus qualified to be the first martyr of the Christian Church. Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch - A heathen Greek, who had not only believed in the God of Israel, but had also received circumcision, and consequently was a proselyte of the covenant; for, had he been only a proselyte of the gate, the Jews could not have associated with him. On the word proselyte, see the note on Exo 12:43. As this is the only proselyte mentioned here, we may presume that all the rest were native Jews. From this Nicolas, it is supposed that the sect called Nicolaitans, mentioned Rev 2:6, Rev 2:15, derived their origin. Dr. Lightfoot doubts this, and rather inclines to derive the name "from ניכולא nicola, let us eat together; those brutes encouraging each other to eat meats offered to idols, like those in Isa 22:13, who said, Let us eat flesh and drink wine, etc." Both Irenaeus and Epiphanius derive this sect from Nicolas the deacon. Clemens Alexandrinus gives this Nicolas a good character, even while he allows that the sect who taught the community of wives pretended to derive their origin from him. See on Rev 2:6 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 6:1-7

Hitherto the disciples had been of one accord; this often had been noticed to their honour; but now they were multiplied, they began to murmur. The word of God was enough to take up all the thoughts, cares, and time of the apostles. The persons chosen to serve tables must be duly qualified. They must be filled with gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost, necessary to rightly managing this trust; men of truth, and hating…

Read the full comment on Acts 6:1-7 →

Acts 6:5 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532

ἤρεσενēresenpleasedG700

ὁhotheG3588

λόγοςlogosstatementG3056

ἐνώπιονenōpionbeforeG1799

παντὸςpantosallG3956

τοῦtoutheG3588

πλήθους,plēthousmultitude,G4128

καὶkaiandG2532

ἐξελέξαντοexelexantothey choseG1586

Στέφανον,StephanonStephen,G4736

ἄνδραandraa manG435

πλήρηςplērēsfullG4134

πίστεωςpisteōsof faithG4102

καὶkaiandG2532

πνεύματοςpneumatos[of the] SpiritG4151

ἁγίου,hagiouholy,G40

καὶkaiandG2532

ΦίλιππονPhilipponPhilipG5376

καὶkaiandG2532

ΠρόχορονProchoronProchorusG4402

καὶkaiandG2532

ΝικάνοραNikanoraNicanorG3527

καὶkaiandG2532

ΤίμωναTimōnaTimonG5096

καὶkaiandG2532

ΠαρμενᾶνParmenanParmenasG3937

καὶkaiandG2532

ΝικόλαονNikolaonNicolasG3532

προσήλυτονprosēlutona convertG4339

Ἀντιοχέα,Antiocheaof Antioch,G491

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 6:5

Acts 11:24
For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
Acts 21:8
And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Cesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
Acts 8:5-40
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city. …
Acts 6:8
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Acts 7:1-8:2
Then said the high priest, Are these things so? And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee. Then came he out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell. …
Acts 6:3
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.
Proverbs 15:23
A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
Acts 11:19
Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
Acts 13:1
Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Acts 6:10
And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
Micah 3:8
But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.
Genesis 41:37
And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

the saying.
15:22; Ge 41:37; Pr 15:1,23; 25:11,12
Stephen.
3,8,10; 7:1-60; 8:1,2; 11:24; Mic 3:8
Philip.
8:5-13,26-40; 21:8
Nicolas.
Re 2:6,15
a proselyte.
13:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Acts 6:4
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
Acts 6:5
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:
Acts 6:6
Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

Read all of Acts 6

Acts 6:5 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	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:
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et ce discours plut à toute la multitude; et ils choisirent Étienne, homme plein de foi et de l’Esprit Saint, et Philippe, et Prochore, et Nicanor, et Timon, et Parménas, et Nicolas, prosélyte d’Antioche,
German Elberfelder 1871	Und die Rede gefiel der ganzen Menge; und sie erwählten Stephanus, einen Mann voll Glaubens und Heiligen Geistes, und Philippus und Prochorus und Nikanor und Timon und Parmenas und Nikolaus, einen Proselyten aus Antiochien,
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Et placuit sermo coram omni multitudine. Et elegerunt Stephanum, virum plenum fide et Spiritu Sancto, et Philippum, et Prochorum, et Nicanorem, et Timonem, et Parmenam, et Nicolaum advenam Antiochenum.