Acts 6:1

Now in those ¹  days, when the disciples were growing in number, ²  a complaint arose on the part of the Greek-speaking Jews ³  against the native Hebraic Jews, ⁴  because their widows ⁵  were being overlooked ⁶  in the daily distribution of food. ⁷ 

De 24:19-21; De 26:12; Job 29:13; Job 31:16; Ps 72:16; Ps 110:3; Isa 1:17; Isa 27:6; Jer 30:19; Eze 22:7; Mal 3:5; Mt 23:14; Ac 2:41,47; Ac 2:45; Ac 4:4; Ac 4:35; Ac 5:14,28; Ac 6:7; Ac 9:29; Ac 9:39,41; Ac 11:20; 1Co 10:10; 2Co 11:22; Php 3:5; 1Ti 5:4,5,9; Heb 13:1; Jas 1:27; Jas 4:5; Jas 5:9

¹ tn Grk “these.” The translation uses “those” for stylistic reasons.

² tn Grk “were multiplying.”

³ tn Grk “the Hellenists,” but this descriptive term is largely unknown to the modern English reader. The translation “Greek-speaking Jews” attempts to convey something of who these were, but it was more than a matter of language spoken; it involved a degree of adoption of Greek culture as well.

sn The Greek-speaking Jews were the Hellenists, Jews who to a greater or lesser extent had adopted Greek thought, customs, and lifestyle, as well as the Greek language. The city of Alexandria in Egypt was a focal point for them, but they were scattered throughout the Roman Empire.

⁴ tn Grk “against the Hebrews,” but as with “Hellenists” this needs further explanation for the modern reader.

⁵ sn The care of widows is a major biblical theme: Deut 10:18; 16:11, 14; 24:17, 19-21; 26:12-13; 27:19; Isa 1:17-23; Jer 7:6; Mal 3:5.

⁶ tn Or “neglected.”

⁷ tn Grk “in the daily serving.”

sn The daily distribution of food. The early church saw it as a responsibility to meet the basic needs of people in their group.