Acts 6:3 (WEB)
Therefore, select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
Fathers and councils · 6
Irenaeus of Lyons
“Luke also has recorded that Stephen, who was the first elected into the diaconate by the apostles, and who was the first slain for the testimony of Christ, spoke regarding Moses as follows: “This man did indeed receive the commandments of the living God to…” — editor's note: [Acts vi. 3–7. It is evident that the laity elected, and the apostles ordained.]
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Cyril of Jerusalem
“And it was not in the Twelve Apostles only that the grace of the Holy Spirit wrought, but also in the first-born children of this once barren Church, I mean the seven Deacons; for these also were chosen, as it is written, being full of the Holy Ghost and of wisdom.” — editor's note: Ib. vi. 3.
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Eusebius of Caesarea
“And there were appointed to the diaconate, for the service of the congregation, by prayer and the laying on of the hands of the apostles, approved men, seven in number, of whom Stephen was one.” — editor's note: See Acts vi. 1–6.
Read the whole comment“Among these are Philip, one of the twelve apostles, who sleeps in Hierapolis, and his two aged virgin daughters, and another daughter who lived in the Holy Spirit and now rests at Ephesus; and moreover John, who…” — editor's note: Philip the apostle and Philip the evangelist are here confounded. That they were really two different men is clear enough from Luke’s account in the Acts (cf.…
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Leo the Great
“…was vented on Laurentius the deacon, who was pre-eminent not only in the performance of the sacred rites, but also in the management of the church’s property, promising himself double spoil from one man’s capture: for if he forced him to surrender the sacred treasures, he would also drive him out of the pale of true…” — editor's note: It will be remembered that “the serving of tables” was from the first institution of the office one of the principal duties of the deacon (levita), see Acts…
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Augustine of Hippo
“…Christ, the reply given by the apostles, who before then had adhered to the Lord, was: “It is not good that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.”” — editor's note: Acts vi. 1–4.
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Cross-references · 9
Cited together in Church History III.31.
Cited together in Church History III.31.
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 85.
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 85.
Cited together in Church History III.31.
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 85.
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 85.
Cited together in Church History III.31.
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 85.