^6:1Now in those¹ days, when the disciples were growing in number,² a complaint arose on the part of the Greek-speaking Jews³ against the native Hebraic Jews,⁴ because their widows⁵ were being overlooked⁶ in the daily distribution of food.⁷^6:2So the twelve⁸ called⁹ the whole group¹⁰ of the disciples together and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to wait on tables.¹¹

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Footnotes

1 Grk “these.” The translation uses “those” for stylistic reasons.
2 Grk “were multiplying.”
3 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. 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 Grk “against the Hebrews,” but as with “Hellenists” this needs further explanation for the modern reader.
5 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 Or “neglected.”
7 Grk “in the daily serving.” The daily distribution of food. The early church saw it as a responsibility to meet the basic needs of people in their group.
8 The twelve refers to the twelve apostles.
9 Grk “calling the whole group … together, said.” The participle προσκαλεσάμενοι (proskalesamenoi) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
10 Or “the multitude.”
11 Grk “to serve tables.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

In those days, as the disciples were increasing in number, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables.

NLTNew Living Translation

But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.

So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Now in these days, as the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose by the Greek-speaking Jews against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the twelve summoned the community of disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we neglect the word of God to serve tables.

KJV 1900King James Version

And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

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