Acts 6 · Verse 7

Acts 6:7

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.
Acts 6:7, King James Version

Acts 6:7 in other translations

BSBSo the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.
WEBThe word of God increased and the number of the disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
ASVAnd the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
YLTAnd the word of God did increase, and the number of the disciples did multiply in Jerusalem exceedingly; a great multitude also of the priests were obedient to the faith.
DARBYAnd the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem was very greatly multiplied, and a great crowd of the priests obeyed the faith.
BBEAnd the word of God was increasing in power; and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem became very great, and a great number of priests were in agreement with the faith.
WebsterAnd 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.

What does Acts 6:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. word of God increased ... disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly--prosperity crowning the beautiful spirit which reigned in this mother community. a great company of the priests were obedient, &c.--This was the crowning triumph of the Gospel, whose peaceful prosperity was now at its greatest height. After Stephen's teaching and trial made it clear that sacerdotal interests could not stand with the Gospel, such priestly accessions became rare indeed. Note (1) how easily misunderstandings may arise among the most loving and devoted followers of the Lord Jesus: but (2) How quickly and effectually such misunderstandings may be healed, where honest intentions, love, and wisdom reign: (3) What a beautiful model for imitation is furnished by the class here complained of, who, though themselves the majority, chose the new office-bearers from amongst the complaining minority! (4) How superior to the lust of power do the apostles here show themselves to be, in not only divesting themselves of the immediate superintendence of temporal affairs in the Christian community, but giving the choice of those who were to be entrusted with it to the disciples at large! (5) How little of formal organization did the apostles give to the Church at first, and when an emergency arose which demanded something more, how entirely was the remedy suggested by the reason of the thing! (6) Though the new office-bearers are not expressly called Deacons here, it is universally admitted that this was the first institution of that order in the Church; the success of the expedient securing its permanency, and the qualifications for "the office of a Deacon" being laid down in one of the apostolical Epistles immediately after those of "a Bishop" (1Ti 3:8-13).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 7. And the word of God increased. That is, the gospel was more and more successful, or became more mighty and extensive in its influence. An instance of this success is immediately added.

And a great company of the priests. A great multitude. This is recorded justly as a remarkable instance of the power of the gospel. How great this company was is not mentioned. But the number of the priests in Jerusalem was very great; and their conversion was a striking proof of the power of truth. It is probable that they had been opposed to the gospel with quite as much hostility as any other class of the Jews. And it is now mentioned, as worthy of special record, that the gospel was sufficiently mighty to humble even the proud, and haughty, and selfish, and envious priest to the foot of the cross. One design of the gospel is to evince the power of truth in subduing all classes of men; and hence in the New Testament we have the record of its having actually subdued every class to the obedience of faith. Some MSS., however, here instead of priests read Jews. And this reading is followed in the Syriac version.

Were obedient to the faith. The word faith here is evidently put for the Christian religion. Faith is one of the main requirements of the gospel, Mk 16:16, and by a figure of speech is put for the gospel itself. To become obedient to the faith, therefore, is to obey the requirements of the gospel, particularly that which requires us to believe. Comp. Rom 10:16. By the accession of the priests also no small part of the reproach would be taken away from the gospel, that it made converts only among the lower classes of the people. Comp. Jn 7:48.

(f) "the word of God" Isa 55:11, Acts 12:24, 19:20

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 The word of God increased - By such preachers as the apostles and these deacons, no wonder the doctrine of God increased - became widely diffused and generally known; in consequence of which, the number of the disciples must be greatly multiplied: for God will ever bless his own word, when ministered by those whom he has qualified to proclaim it. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith - This was one of the greatest miracles wrought by the grace of Christ: that persons so intent on the destruction of Christ, his apostles, and his doctrine, should at last espouse that doctrine, is astonishing; and that they who had withstood the evidence of the miracles of Christ should have yielded to the doctrine of his death and resurrection, is worthy of note. And from this we may learn that it is not by miracles that sinners are to be converted unto God, but by the preaching of Christ dying for their offenses, and rising again for their justification. Instead of ἱερεων, priests, a few MSS., and the Syriac, read Ιουδαιων, Jews; for the copyists seem to be struck here with two difficulties: 1. That such persons as these priests could be converted. 2. That the word οχλος, company, or multitude, could with propriety be applied to this class, which must have been inconsiderable in their numbers, when compared with the rest of the Jews. To preserve the ancient reading, which is undoubtedly genuine, some have altered the text by conjecture; and, by putting a comma after οχλος, and a και before των ἱερεων, make the text read thus: And a great multitude, and some of the priests, were obedient to the faith. This conjecture is unnecessary, as there is no such difficulty here as to require so desperate an expedient, which is not recommended by the evidence of a single MS. or version. 1. The grace of Christ Jesus can save even a murderous Jewish priest: his death is a grand atonement for all crimes and for the worst of sinners. 2. In the twenty-four courses of priests, there was not a multitude merely, but multitudes: indeed the number of ecclesiastics at Jerusalem was enormous. A great company out of these might be converted, and yet multitudes be left behind.

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 6:7 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
ὁhotheG3588
λόγοςlogoswordG3056
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦtheouof GodG2316
ηὔξανεν,ēuxanenwas increasing,G837
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐπληθύνετοeplēthunetowas multipliedG4129
ὁhotheG3588
ἀριθμὸςarithmosnumberG706
τῶνtōnof theG3588
μαθητῶνmathētōndisciplesG3101
ἐνeninG1722
ἸερουσαλὴμIerousalēmJerusalemG2419
σφόδρα,sphodraexceedingly,G4970
πολύςpolusa greatG4183
τεtethenG5037
ὄχλοςochlosmultitudeG3793
τῶνtōnof theG3588
ἱερέωνhi'ereōnpriestsG2409
ὑπήκουονhupēkouonwere becoming obedientG5219
τῇtēato theG3588
πίστει.¶pisteifaith.G4102

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

Cross references for Acts 6:7

  • Acts 19:20

    So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

  • Acts 12:24

    But the word of God grew and multiplied.

  • Colossians 1:6

    Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

  • Hebrews 5:9

    And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

  • Romans 16:26

    But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

  • Romans 1:5

    By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

  • Acts 14:22

    Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

  • John 12:42

    Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

  • Acts 21:20

    And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:

  • Acts 13:8

    But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

  • Matthew 19:30

    But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

  • Hebrews 11:8

    By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the word.
12:24; 19:20; Col 1:6; 2Ti 2:9
the number.
21:20; *Gr:
the priests.
2Ch 29:34; 30:24; Ps 132:9,16; Mt 19:30; Lu 2:34; Joh 12:42
obedient.
Ro 1:5; 16:26; 2Th 1:8; Heb 5:9; 11:8

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

Context

  • Acts 6:6

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

  • Acts 6:7

    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.

  • Acts 6:8

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

Read all of Acts 6

Acts 6:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y crecía la palabra del Señor, y el número de los discípulos se multiplicaba mucho en Jerusalem: también una gran multitud de los sacerdotes obedecía á la fe.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et la parole de Dieu croissait, et le nombre des disciples se multipliait beaucoup dans Jérusalem, et une grande foule de sacrificateurs obéissait à la foi.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und das Wort Gottes wuchs, und die Zahl der Jünger in Jerusalem vermehrte sich sehr; und eine große Menge der Priester wurde dem Glauben gehorsam.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et verbum Domini crescebat, et multiplicabatur numerus discipulorum in Jerusalem valde: multa etiam turba sacerdotum obediebat fidei.