Acts 6:7

"whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them."

Key Reflection

In this passage, laying hands on the chosen individuals symbolized both prayer for their ministry and conferring spiritual authority. This act reinforced their new roles as deacons, ensuring they would carry out their duties with God’s blessing and empowerment.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 7. And the word of God increased. That is, the gospel was more and more successful, or became more mighty and extensive in its influence. An instance of this success is immediately added. And a great company of the priests. A great multitude. This is recorded justly as a remarkable instance of the power of the gospel. How great this company was is not mentioned. But the number of the priests in Jerusalem was very great; and their conversion was a striking proof of the power of truth. It is probable that they had been opposed to the gospel with quite as much hostility as any other class of the Jews.

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