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Selected Verse: Acts 6:5 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ac 6:5	Strong Concordance	And [2532] the saying [3056] pleased [700] [1799] the whole [3956] multitude [4128]: and [2532] they chose [1586] Stephen [4736], a man [435] full [4134] of faith [4102] and [2532] of the Holy [40] Ghost [4151], and [2532] Philip [5376], and [2532] Prochorus [4402], and [2532] Nicanor [3527], and [2532] Timon [5096], and [2532] Parmenas [3937], and [2532] Nicolas [3532] a proselyte [4339] of Antioch [491]:
	King James	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:

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Stephen, &c.--As this and the following names are all Greek, it is likely they were all of the "Grecian" class, which would effectually restore mutual confidence.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Stephen, &c.--As this and the following names are all Greek, it is likely they were all of the "Grecian" class, which would effectually restore mutual confidence.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
And the saying - "The word" - the counsel, or command, And they chose Stephen ... - A man who soon showed Acts 7 that he was in every way qualified for his office, and also suited to defend the cause of the Lord Jesus. This man had the distinguished honor of being the first Christian martyr. And Nicolas - From this man some of the fathers (Iren., lib. 1:27; Epiphanius, 1; Haeres., 5) says that the sect of the "Nicolaitanes," mentioned with so much disapprobation Rev 2:6, Rev 2:15, took their rise. But the evidence of this is not clear. A proselyte - A "proselyte" is one who is converted from one religion to another. See the notes on Mat 23:15. The word does not mean here that he was a convert to "Christianity" - which was true - but that he had been converted at Antioch from paganism to the Jewish religion. As this is the only proselyte mentioned among the seven deacons, it is evident that the others were native-born Jews, though a part of them might have been born out of Palestine, and have been of the denomination of "Grecians," or "Hellenists." Of Antioch - This city, often mentioned in the New Testament (Act 11:19-20, Act 11:26; Act 15:22, Act 15:35; Gal 2:11, etc.), was situated in Syria, on the river Orontes, and was formerly called "Riblath." It is not mentioned in the Old Testament, but is frequently mentioned in the Apocrypha. It was built by Seleucus Nicanor, b.c. 301, and was named "Antioch," in honor of his father Antiochus. It became the seat of empire of the Syrian kings of the Macedonian race, and afterward of the Roman governors of the eastern provinces. In this place the disciples of Christ were first called "Christians," Act 11:26. Josephus says it was the third city in size of the Roman provinces, being inferior only to Seleucia and Alexandria. It was long, indeed, the most powerful city of the East. The city was almost square, had many gates, was adorned with fine fountains, and possessed great fertility of soil and commercial opulence. It was subject to earthquakes, and was often almost destroyed by them. In 588 a.d. above 60,000 persons perished in it in this manner. In 970 a.d. an army of 100,000 Saracens besieged it, and took it. In 1268 a.d. it was taken possession of by the Sultan of Egypt, who demolished it, and placed it under the dominion of the Turks. It is now called "Antakia," and until the year 1822 it occupied a remote corner of the ancient enclosure of its walls, its splendid buildings being reduced to hovels, and its population living in Turkish debasement. It contains now about 10,000 inhabitants (Robinson's Calmet). This city should be distinguished from Antioch in Pisidia, also mentioned in the New Testament, Act 13:14.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

And the saying - "The word" - the counsel, or command,

And they chose Stephen ... - A man who soon showed Acts 7 that he was in every way qualified for his office, and also suited to defend the cause of the Lord Jesus. This man had the distinguished honor of being the first Christian martyr.

And Nicolas - From this man some of the fathers (Iren., lib. 1:27; Epiphanius, 1; Haeres., 5) says that the sect of the "Nicolaitanes," mentioned with so much disapprobation Rev 2:6, Rev 2:15, took their rise. But the evidence of this is not clear.

A proselyte - A "proselyte" is one who is converted from one religion to another. See the notes on Mat 23:15. The word does not mean here that he was a convert to "Christianity" - which was true - but that he had been converted at Antioch from paganism to the Jewish religion. As this is the only proselyte mentioned among the seven deacons, it is evident that the others were native-born Jews, though a part of them might have been born out of Palestine, and have been of the denomination of "Grecians," or "Hellenists."

Of Antioch - This city, often mentioned in the New Testament (Act 11:19-20, Act 11:26; Act 15:22, Act 15:35; Gal 2:11, etc.), was situated in Syria, on the river Orontes, and was formerly called "Riblath." It is not mentioned in the Old Testament, but is frequently mentioned in the Apocrypha. It was built by Seleucus Nicanor, b.c. 301, and was named "Antioch," in honor of his father Antiochus. It became the seat of empire of the Syrian kings of the Macedonian race, and afterward of the Roman governors of the eastern provinces. In this place the disciples of Christ were first called "Christians," Act 11:26. Josephus says it was the third city in size of the Roman provinces, being inferior only to Seleucia and Alexandria. It was long, indeed, the most powerful city of the East. The city was almost square, had many gates, was adorned with fine fountains, and possessed great fertility of soil and commercial opulence. It was subject to earthquakes, and was often almost destroyed by them. In 588 a.d. above 60,000 persons perished in it in this manner. In 970 a.d. an army of 100,000 Saracens besieged it, and took it. In 1268 a.d. it was taken possession of by the Sultan of Egypt, who demolished it, and placed it under the dominion of the Turks. It is now called "Antakia," and until the year 1822 it occupied a remote corner of the ancient enclosure of its walls, its splendid buildings being reduced to hovels, and its population living in Turkish debasement. It contains now about 10,000 inhabitants (Robinson's Calmet). This city should be distinguished from Antioch in Pisidia, also mentioned in the New Testament, Act 13:14.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
chose It is beautiful to see that these were all Hellenists, as the Grecian names show.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Stephen, etc The names are all Greek. There is no reason to infer from this that they were all Hellenists. It was customary among the Jews to have two names, the one Hebrew and the other Greek. They were probably partly Hebrews and partly Hellenists.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
And they chose - It seems seven Hellenists, as their names show. And Nicholas a proselyte - To whom the proselytes would the more readily apply.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost - A person every way properly fitted for his work; and thus qualified to be the first martyr of the Christian Church. Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch - A heathen Greek, who had not only believed in the God of Israel, but had also received circumcision, and consequently was a proselyte of the covenant; for, had he been only a proselyte of the gate, the Jews could not have associated with him. On the word proselyte, see the note on Exo 12:43. As this is the only proselyte mentioned here, we may presume that all the rest were native Jews. From this Nicolas, it is supposed that the sect called Nicolaitans, mentioned Rev 2:6, Rev 2:15, derived their origin. Dr. Lightfoot doubts this, and rather inclines to derive the name "from ניכולא nicola, let us eat together; those brutes encouraging each other to eat meats offered to idols, like those in Isa 22:13, who said, Let us eat flesh and drink wine, etc." Both Irenaeus and Epiphanius derive this sect from Nicolas the deacon. Clemens Alexandrinus gives this Nicolas a good character, even while he allows that the sect who taught the community of wives pretended to derive their origin from him. See on Rev 2:6 (note).

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¹⁴ But [1161] when they [846] departed [1330] from [575] Perga [4011], they came [3854] to [1519] Antioch [490] in Pisidia [4099], and [2532] went [1525] into [1519] the synagogue [4864] on the sabbath [4521] day [2250], and sat down [2523].

²⁶ And [2532] when he had found [2147] him [846], he brought [71] him [846] unto [1519] Antioch [490]. And [1161] it came to pass [1096], that a whole [3650] year [1763] they [846] assembled themselves [4863] with [1722] the church [1577], and [2532] taught [1321] much [2425] people [3793]. And [5037] the disciples [3101] were called [5537] Christians [5546] first [4412] in [1722] Antioch [490].

¹¹ But [1161] when [3753] Peter [4074] was come [2064] to [1519] Antioch [490], I withstood [436] him [846] to [2596] the face [4383], because [3754] he was [2258] to be blamed [2607].

³⁵ Paul [3972] also [1161] and [2532] Barnabas [921] continued [1304] in [1722] Antioch [490], teaching [1321] and [2532] preaching [2097] the word [3056] of the Lord [2962], with [3326] many [4183] others [2087] also [2532].

²² Then [5119] pleased it [1380] the apostles [652] and [2532] elders [4245], with [4862] the whole [3650] church [1577], to send [3992] chosen [1586] men [435] of [1537] their own company [846] to [1519] Antioch [490] with [4862] Paul [3972] and [2532] Barnabas [921]; namely, Judas [2455] surnamed [1941] Barsabas [923], and [2532] Silas [4609], chief [2233] men [435] among [1722] the brethren [80]:

¹⁹ Now [3767] [3303] they which were scattered abroad [1289] upon [575] the persecution [2347] that arose [1096] about [1909] Stephen [4736] travelled [1330] as far as [2193] Phenice [5403], and [2532] Cyprus [2954], and [2532] Antioch [490], preaching [2980] the word [3056] to none [3367] but [1508] unto the Jews [2453] only [3440].
²⁰ And [1161] some [5100] of [1537] them [846] were [2258] men [435] of Cyprus [2953] and [2532] Cyrene [2956], which [3748], when they were come [1525] to [1519] Antioch [490], spake [2980] unto [4314] the Grecians [1675], preaching [2097] the Lord [2962] Jesus [2424].

¹⁵ Woe [3759] unto you [5213], scribes [1122] and [2532] Pharisees [5330], hypocrites [5273]! for [3754] ye compass [4013] sea [2281] and [2532] land [3584] to make [4160] one [1520] proselyte [4339], and [2532] when [3752] he is made [1096], ye make [4160] him [846] twofold more [1362] the child [5207] of hell [1067] than yourselves [5216].

¹⁵ So [3779] hast [2192] thou [4771] also [2532] them that hold [2902] the doctrine [1322] of the Nicolaitans [3531], which thing [3739] I hate [3404].

⁶ But [235] this [5124] thou hast [2192], that [3754] thou hatest [3404] the deeds [2041] of the Nicolaitans [3531], which [3739] I also [2504] hate [3404].

¹³ And behold joy [08342] and gladness [08057], slaying [02026] oxen [01241], and killing [07819] sheep [06629], eating [0398] flesh [01320], and drinking [08354] wine [03196]: let us eat [0398] and drink [08354]; for to morrow [04279] we shall die [04191].

¹⁵ So [3779] hast [2192] thou [4771] also [2532] them that hold [2902] the doctrine [1322] of the Nicolaitans [3531], which thing [3739] I hate [3404].

⁶ But [235] this [5124] thou hast [2192], that [3754] thou hatest [3404] the deeds [2041] of the Nicolaitans [3531], which [3739] I also [2504] hate [3404].

⁴³ And the LORD [03068] said [0559] unto Moses [04872] and Aaron [0175], This is the ordinance [02708] of the passover [06453]: There shall no stranger [01121] [05236] eat [0398] thereof: