and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
Parallel translations
- WEB But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.”
- KJV But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
- NKJV but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
- NASB But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
- NLT Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”
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 apostles resolve to devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word. Spiritual leaders must guard their core calling.
Overview
By delegating, the apostles free themselves for the work only they were commissioned to do. Prayer and the word are named as the indispensable priorities of gospel leadership. The verse establishes an enduring principle: ministry of the word must be protected, and other vital service delegated to faithful helpers.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Acts 1:14With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
- 1 Tim 4:13–16Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching.
- Phil 1:9–11And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
- Acts 2:42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
- 2 Tim 4:2Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.
- Eph 3:14–21... for this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
- Rom 1:9God, whom I serve with my spirit in preaching the gospel of His Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you
- Acts 13:2–3While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
- Col 1:9–13For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
- Col 4:17Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”
- Col 2:1For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me face to face,
- Acts 20:19–31I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, especially in the trials that came upon me through the plots of the Jews.
- 1 Cor 9:16Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
- Eph 1:15–17For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
- Phil 1:4In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy,
- Rom 12:6–8We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith;
- Col 4:12Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in the full will of God.
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 6:4 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.