Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.
Parallel translations
- WEB The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables.
- KJV Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
- BSB So the Twelve summoned all the disciples and said, “It is unacceptable for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables.
- NASB So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.
- NLT So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Twelve say it is wrong for them to abandon preaching the word in order to serve tables. Different ministries must be ordered, not neglected.
Overview
The apostles do not despise practical service but recognize their primary calling to the word. Their concern is that essential ministries not crowd out one another. This wise prioritizing safeguards the proclamation of the gospel while ensuring the needy are not forgotten.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Deut 1:9–14I spoke to you at that time, saying, “I am not able to bear you myself alone.
- Exod 18:17–26Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good.
- 2 Tim 2:4No soldier on duty entangles himself in the affairs of life, that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.
- Neh 6:3I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I can’t come down. Why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you?”
- Num 11:11–13Moses said to Yahweh, “Why have you treated with your servant so badly? Why haven’t I found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me?
- Acts 25:27For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the charges against him.”
- Acts 21:22What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come.
- Acts 4:19But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 6:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.