Acts 6:4 Meaning and Explanation
“But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The apostles commit themselves wholly and continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.
What Does Acts 6:4 Mean?
Having proposed that seven men carry the daily distribution, the twelve name their own charge: unbroken devotion to prayer and to the ministry of the word. It is the same steadfastness that marked the church from its first days, when the disciples 'continued stedfastly' in the apostles' doctrine and in prayers (Acts 2:42).
Prayer stands first in the sentence. Before the apostles are preachers they are men on their knees, and the word they minister draws its life from communion with the Lord it proclaims. The pairing rebukes two opposite failures — activity without prayer, and devotion without witness. For anyone entrusted with teaching God's people, here is the job description: seek God continually, then feed His flock what He gives.
Acts 6:4 in the Original Language
proskartereo (προσκαρτερέω), 'give ourselves continually' -- to hold fast to something with steadfast devotion.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 6:4
What does Acts 6:4 mean?
The apostles commit themselves wholly and continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.