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parallelVerse INT GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1SA 2SA PSA AMOS HOS 1KI 2KI 1CH 2CH PRO ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL YHN MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC GAL 1TH 2TH 1COR 2COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1TIM TIT 1PET 2PET 2TIM HEB YUD 1YHN 2YHN 3YHN REV
Acts Intro C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 C22 C23 C24 C25 C26 C27 C28
Acts 6 V1 V2 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15
Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.
Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance=normal (All still tentative.)
OET (OET-RV) So brothers, look around you for seven men who’re well known to be full of God’s spirit and wisdom, so we can appoint them to be in charge of this part of the work.
OET-LV but brothers examine, men from of_you_all being_attested, seven full of_the_spirit and wisdom, whom we_will_be_appointing over the this need.
SR-GNT Ἐπισκέψασθε δέ, ἀδελφοί, ἄνδρας ἐξ ὑμῶν μαρτυρουμένους, ἑπτὰ πλήρεις ˚Πνεύματος καὶ σοφίας, οὓς καταστήσομεν ἐπὶ τῆς χρείας ταύτης. ‡
(Episkepsasthe de, adelfoi, andras ex humōn marturoumenous, hepta plaʸreis ˚Pneumatos kai sofias, hous katastaʸsomen epi taʸs ⱪreias tautaʸs.)
Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, magenta:vocative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).
ULT So brothers, choose from among yourselves seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this task.
UST So, fellow believers, carefully choose seven men from among you, men whom you know the Spirit of God directs and who are very wise. Then we will instruct them to do this work.
BSB Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will appoint this responsibility to them
BLB Therefore, brothers, select out from yourselves seven men being well attested, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we will appoint over this task.
AICNT Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the [[Holy]][fn] Spirit and wisdom, whom we will appoint over this need.
6:3, Holy: Some manuscripts include.
OEB Therefore, friends, look for seven men of reputation among yourselves, wise and spiritually-minded men, and we will appoint them to attend to this matter;
WEBBE Therefore, select from amongst you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
WMBB (Same as above)
NET But carefully select from among you, brothers, seven men who are well-attested, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this necessary task.
LSV look out, therefore, brothers, seven men of you who are testified well of, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may set over this necessity,
FBV Brothers, choose from among you seven trustworthy men full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will hand this responsibility over to them.
TCNT [fn]Therefore, brothers, look for seven men among you who have a good reputation and are full of the [fn]Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint for this need.
T4T So, fellow believers, carefully choose seven men from among you, men whom you know that the Spirit of God controls completely and who are very wise. Then we (exc) will appoint them to do this work,
LEB So, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation,[fn] full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we will put in charge of this need.
6:3 Literally “well spoken of”
BBE Take then from among you seven men of good name, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, to whom we may give control of this business.
Moff No Moff ACTs book available
Wymth Therefore, brethren, pick out from among yourselves seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, and we will appoint them to undertake this duty.
ASV Look ye out therefore, brethren, from among you seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
DRA Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
YLT look out, therefore, brethren, seven men of you who are well testified of, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may set over this necessity,
Drby Look out therefore, brethren, from among yourselves seven men, well reported of, full of [the] [Holy] Spirit and wisdom, whom we will establish over this business:
RV Look ye out therefore, brethren, from among you seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
Wbstr Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
KJB-1769 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.
(Wherefore, brethren/brothers, look ye/you_all out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. )
KJB-1611 Wherefore brethren, looke ye out among you seuen men of honest report, full of the holy Ghost, and wisedome, whom we may appoint ouer this businesse.
(Wherefore brethren/brothers, look ye/you_all out among you seven men of honest report, full of the holy Ghost, and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this businesse.)
Bshps Wherfore brethren, loke ye out among you seuen men of honest report, & full of the holy ghost, and wysedome, to who we may commit this busynesse.
(Wherefore brethren/brothers, look ye/you_all out among you seven men of honest report, and full of the holy ghost, and wisdom, to who we may commit this business.)
Gnva Wherefore brethren, looke ye out among you seuen men of honest report, and full of the holy Ghost, and of wisedome, which we may appoint to this busines.
(Wherefore brethren/brothers, look ye/you_all out among you seven men of honest report, and full of the holy Ghost, and of wisdom, which we may appoint to this business. )
Cvdl Wherfore brethren, loke out amonge you seue men, that are of honeste reporte, and full of the holy goost and wyssdome, whom we maye appoynte to this nedefull busynes.
(Wherefore brethren/brothers, look out among you seven men, that are of honesty reporte, and full of the holy ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint to this needfull business.)
TNT Wherfore brethren loke ye out amonge you seven men of honest reporte and full of the holy goost and wysdome which we maye apoynte to this nedfull busynes.
(Wherefore brethren/brothers look ye/you_all out among you seven men of honest reporte and full of the holy ghost and wisdom which we may appoint to this nedfull business. )
Wycl Therfor, britheren, biholde ye men of you of good fame, ful of the Hooli Goost and of wisdom, whiche we schulen ordeyne on this werk;
(Therfor, brethren/brothers, behold ye/you_all men of you of good fame, full of the Holy Ghost and of wisdom, which we should ordain on this werk;)
Luth Darum, ihr lieben Brüder, sehet unter euch nach sieben Männern, die ein gut Gerücht haben und voll Heiligen Geistes und Weisheit sind, welche wir bestellen mögen zu dieser Notdurft.
(Therefore, you/their/her lieben brothers, sehet under you after seven menn, the a good Gerücht have and voll Heiligen spirites and Weisheit are, which we/us bestellen mögen to dieser Notdurft.)
ClVg Considerate ergo, fratres, viros ex vobis boni testimonii septem, plenos Spiritu Sancto et sapientia, quos constituamus super hoc opus.[fn]
(Considerate therefore, brothers, men from to_you boni testimonii septem, plenos Spiritu Sancto and sapientia, which constituamus over this opus. )
6.3 Considerate, etc. BEDA. Hinc jam decreverunt apostoli, etc., usque ad non sine septenarii numeri mysterio.
6.3 Considerate, etc. BEDA. Hinc yam decreverunt apostoli, etc., until to not/no without septenarii numeri mysterio.
UGNT ἐπισκέψασθε δέ, ἀδελφοί, ἄνδρας ἐξ ὑμῶν μαρτυρουμένους, ἑπτὰ πλήρεις Πνεύματος καὶ σοφίας, οὓς καταστήσομεν ἐπὶ τῆς χρείας ταύτης.
(episkepsasthe de, adelfoi, andras ex humōn marturoumenous, hepta plaʸreis Pneumatos kai sofias, hous katastaʸsomen epi taʸs ⱪreias tautaʸs.)
SBL-GNT ἐπισκέψασθε ⸀δέ, ἀδελφοί, ἄνδρας ἐξ ὑμῶν μαρτυρουμένους ἑπτὰ πλήρεις ⸀πνεύματος καὶ σοφίας, οὓς ⸀καταστήσομεν ἐπὶ τῆς χρείας ταύτης·
(episkepsasthe ⸀de, adelfoi, andras ex humōn marturoumenous hepta plaʸreis ⸀pneumatos kai sofias, hous ⸀katastaʸsomen epi taʸs ⱪreias tautaʸs;)
TC-GNT Ἐπισκέψασθε [fn]οὖν, ἀδελφοί, ἄνδρας ἐξ ὑμῶν μαρτυρουμένους ἑπτά, πλήρεις Πνεύματος [fn]Ἁγίου καὶ σοφίας, οὓς [fn]καταστήσωμεν ἐπὶ τῆς χρείας ταύτης.
(Episkepsasthe oun, adelfoi, andras ex humōn marturoumenous hepta, plaʸreis Pneumatos Hagiou kai sofias, hous katastaʸsōmen epi taʸs ⱪreias tautaʸs. )
Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).
6:2-6 Wisely, the apostles called a meeting of all the believers to address the dispute. They recognized the seriousness of the problem, as well as their own priority of teaching the word of God. The solution was to select wise and Spirit-filled men to oversee the food distribution. The community accepted the apostles’ solution and chose good leaders from the ranks of the Greek-speaking believers (all of their names are Greek). These seven devoted themselves to this special ministry, allowing the apostles to spend their time in prayer and teaching the word.
• These seven men are sometimes called the first deacons because of the similarity of their role to the office of deacon (see 1 Tim 3:8-13). Although the Greek term translated “deacon” (Greek diakonos, “servant”) is not used here, a related Greek word is translated running a food program (6:2; Greek diakonein, “to serve”).
Empowering Leadership
In Acts 6:1-7 the new Christian community faced a crisis of leadership. The Hellenists, the Greek-speaking Jews in Jerusalem, were upset because the needs of their widows were being overlooked in “the daily distribution of food” (6:1). This disruption threatened the development of the church with “rumblings of discontent” (6:1) and had to be seriously addressed. Wisely, the apostles recognized the problem (6:2-3) and called for the selection of seven men to administer the food program (6:5-6). Many interpreters see these seven as the first deacons (see study note on 6:2-6). A clear division of labor was agreed upon, with the apostles attending to preaching and teaching, and the material needs of the people being handled by other Spirit-filled leaders. The apostles provided empowering leadership by sensitively listening to genuine community needs. This wise handling of the issue, with the united, responsible action of all involved, resulted in spiritual growth and an increased number of believers (6:7).
Different gifts were recognized in the church and put to work for the common good (see 1 Cor 12:4-11; 1 Pet 4:10-11). And every believer has the opportunity to exercise some kind of ministry. This usefulness of every Christian in the service of God is sometimes called the “priesthood of all believers” (1 Pet 2:5, 9; Rev 1:6; 5:10; see Exod 19:6; Isa 61:6; Rev 20:6). Not everyone has the same role, but all have the same calling to use their gifts in God’s service.
God has given the church its leaders, not to “lord it over” other people, but to serve the community (Matt 20:25-28; Mark 10:42-45; Luke 22:25-27; 1 Pet 5:1-4). The leaders of the church do well when they recognize both the needs of the community and those whom God has prepared to meet those needs. Good leaders recognize gifted people and help them develop, empowering the members of the body to use their God-given gifts (Eph 4:11-12).
Passages for Further Study
Exod 19:6; Isa 61:6; Matt 20:25-28; Acts 6:1-7; 1 Cor 12:4-11; Eph 4:11-12; 1 Pet 2:5, 9; 4:10-11; Rev 1:6; 5:10; 20:6
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
ἀδελφοί
brothers
See how you translated the term brothers in 1:15. Alternate translation: [my fellow believers]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
ἄνδρας & μαρτυρουμένους
men & /being/_attested
The expression being attested is a passive verbal form. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the same meaning with an active form. Alternate translation: [men to whose honesty people attest] or [men whom people say they trust]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
πλήρεις Πνεύματος καὶ σοφίας
full ˱of˲_/the/_Spirit and wisdom
The apostles are speaking of these men as if they were containers that the Holy Spirit and wisdom could fill. Alternate translation: [in whose lives the Spirit is evidently present and who possess great wisdom]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
πλήρεις Πνεύματος καὶ σοφίας
full ˱of˲_/the/_Spirit and wisdom
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind the word wisdom, you could express the same idea with an adverb such as “wisely.” Alternate translation: [in whose lives the Spirit is evidently present and who act very wisely]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
ἐπὶ τῆς χρείας ταύτης
over ¬the need this
When the apostles say that they will appoint these men over the work of food distribution, they are using a spatial metaphor. Alternate translation: [to be responsible for this task]