Acts 6:4

4 However, we will devote ourselves to praying and to serving in ways that are related to the word."

Acts 6:4 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 6:4

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer
Both in private for themselves, and the church; and in the houses and families of the saints, with the sick and distressed;. and in public, in the temple, or in whatsoever place they met for public worship:

and to the ministry of the word;
the preaching of the Gospel, to which prayer is absolutely prerequisite, and with which it is always to be joined. These two, prayer and preaching, are the principal employment of a Gospel minister, and are what he ought to be concerned in, not only now and then, but what he should give himself up unto wholly, that his profiting might appear; and what he should be continually exercised and employed in: and if parting with that branch of the ministerial function, the care of the secular affairs of the church, and of the poor of it, was necessary in the apostles, that they might be more at leisure to attend to the more important and useful duties of prayer and preaching; it therefore seems necessary that those who are called to labour in the word and doctrine, if possible, should be exempt from all worldly business and employment; that of the ministry being sufficient to engross all a man's time and thoughts.

Acts 6:4 In-Context

2 The twelve apostles called all the disciples together and told them, "It's not right for us to give up God's word in order to distribute food.

3 So, brothers and sisters, choose seven men whom the people know are spiritually wise. We will put them in charge of this problem.

4 However, we will devote ourselves to praying and to serving in ways that are related to the word."

5 The suggestion pleased the whole group. So they chose Stephen, who was a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and they chose Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, who had converted to Judaism in the city of Antioch.

6 The disciples had these men stand in front of the apostles, who prayed and placed their hands on these seven men.