but we will give ourselves continually 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.
- BSB and will devote ourselves 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 1:14All these with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
- 1 Tim 4:13–16Until I come, pay attention to reading, to exhortation, and to teaching.
- Phil 1:9–11This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment;
- Acts 2:42They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.
- 2 Tim 4:2preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching.
- Eph 3:14–21For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
- Rom 1:9For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the Good News of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you always in my prayers,
- Acts 13:2–3As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them.”
- Col 1:9–13For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don’t cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
- Col 4:17Tell Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it.”
- Col 2:1For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
- Acts 20:19–31serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears, and with trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews;
- 1 Cor 9:16For if I preach the Good News, I have nothing to boast about; for necessity is laid on me; but woe is to me, if I don’t preach the Good News.
- Eph 1:15–17For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you, and the love which you have toward all the saints,
- Phil 1:4always in every request of mine on behalf of you all making my requests with joy,
- Rom 12:6–8Having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, if prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith;
- Col 4:12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the 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.