Acts 6:6

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

Whom {G3739} they set {G2476} before {G1799} the apostles {G652}: and {G2532} when they had prayed {G4336}, they laid {G2007} their hands {G5495} on {G2007} them {G846}.

They presented these men to the emissaries, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

They presented these seven to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

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

Acts 6:6 describes a pivotal moment in the early Christian church, detailing the formal commissioning of the first seven men chosen to assist the apostles in ministry. This verse marks the establishment of a new administrative structure within the rapidly growing community in Jerusalem.

Context

The immediate context of Acts 6:6 begins with a practical problem: the Hellenistic (Greek-speaking) Jewish widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food compared to the Hebraic widows (Acts 6:1). This issue threatened the unity of the nascent church. The apostles, recognizing that their primary calling was to prayer and the ministry of the word (Acts 6:4), instructed the multitude of disciples to select seven men "of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom" (Acts 6:3) to oversee this practical service. The community chose Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas (Acts 6:5). Verse 6 then details their official induction.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Delegation and Structure: This verse highlights the early church's adaptability and wisdom in establishing a delegated leadership structure. It demonstrates that as the church grew, administrative needs required dedicated individuals, freeing the apostles to focus on their core spiritual responsibilities. This model of appointing qualified leaders for specific tasks remains relevant for church organization today.
  • Spiritual Authority and Commissioning: The act of the apostles laying their hands on the chosen men was a symbolic and spiritual act of commissioning. It signified divine approval, the imparting of authority for service, and a blessing upon their ministry. It was a public affirmation of their selection by the community and their appointment by the apostolic leadership.
  • The Centrality of Prayer: Before any action, the apostles prayed. This emphasizes the vital role of prayer in all significant decisions and appointments within the church, seeking God's guidance and anointing for those being set apart for service.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "laid their hands on them" (Greek: epitithēmi tas cheiras) is a significant action in the New Testament. While it is sometimes associated with healing (e.g., Mark 6:5) or imparting the Holy Spirit (e.g., Acts 8:17, Acts 19:6), in this context, it primarily signifies a formal act of ordination or commissioning for ministry. It was a public recognition and spiritual endowment for the specific task they were called to perform, similar to how Paul later refers to the laying on of hands by the presbytery.

Practical Application

Acts 6:6 offers timeless principles for church life and leadership:

  1. Recognizing Gifts: The church should actively identify and affirm individuals who are "full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom" for various ministries, whether spiritual or practical.
  2. Balanced Ministry: It illustrates the importance of balancing spiritual teaching and prayer with practical service and administration. Both are essential for the healthy functioning and growth of the church.
  3. Divine Approval: The practice of commissioning, often involving prayer and the laying on of hands, underscores the belief that ministry is not merely human endeavor but a divine calling empowered by God.
  4. Order and Unity: By addressing problems through structured, Spirit-led processes, the early church maintained unity and allowed the "word of God to increase" (Acts 6:7).
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Numbers 8:10

    And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites:

  • 2 Timothy 1:6

    ¶ Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

  • Acts 1:24

    And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all [men], shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

  • 1 Timothy 4:14

    Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

  • Acts 8:17

    Then laid they [their] hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

  • Acts 9:17

    And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

  • Acts 13:3

    And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid [their] hands on them, they sent [them] away.

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