Acts 6:5 Meaning and Explanation
“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:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The whole congregation is pleased with the plan and chooses seven men, Stephen first among them, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost.
What Does Acts 6:5 Mean?
The proposal pleases the entire multitude, and the complaint of verse 1 ends not in division but in shared action. All seven chosen men bear Greek names, which suggests the church entrusted the care of the overlooked widows to men from the very community that had felt the neglect. Stephen stands first, marked by faith and the Holy Ghost; last comes Nicolas of Antioch, a convert to Israel's faith.
Grievance is answered with generosity: the body does not guard position but hands real responsibility to those nearest the wound. Two of these names, Stephen and Philip, will carry the gospel's story forward in the chapters ahead — God was already raising up His next witnesses through an act of practical peacemaking.
Acts 6:5 in the Original Language
proselytos (προσήλυτος), 'proselyte' -- a convert who has come over to the faith of Israel.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 6:5
What does Acts 6:5 mean?
The whole congregation is pleased with the plan and chooses seven men, Stephen first among them, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost.