Acts 6:5 (WEB)
These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch,
Fathers and councils · 9
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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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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John Cassian
- John Cassian, Conferences XVIII–XXIV XVIII.16Conference XVIII
“For although some maintain that this Nicholas was not the same man who was chosen for the work of the ministry by the Apostles, nevertheless they cannot deny that he was of the number of the disciples, all of whom were clearly of such a character and so perfect as those few whom we can…” — editor's note: As Cassian here implies, considerable doubt exists whether the Nicholas from whom the sect of the Nicolaitans (Rev. ii. 15) derive their name was the same…
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Jerome
“And Nicolas of Antioch—a deacon like yourself—disseminated the Nicolaitan heresy and all manner of uncleanness.” — editor's note: Acts vi. 5.
Read the whole comment“ThenNicolas, one of the seven Deacons, and one whose lechery knew no rest by night or day, indulged in his filthy dreams.” — editor's note: Acts vi. 5, Rev. ii. 6, 15. As to how far Jerome’s estimate of the character of Nicolas is correct, the article Nicolas in Smith’s Dict. of Bible may be…
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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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Hippolytus of Rome
“He, as one of the seven (that were chosen) for the diaconate, was appointed by the Apostles.” — editor's note: [He understands that the seven (Acts vi. 5) were deacons. Bunsen, i. p. 97.]
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Clement of Alexandria
“Such also are those (who say that they follow Nicolaus, quoting an adage of the man, which they pervert, “that the flesh must be abused.”” — editor's note: [Clement does not credit the apostasy of the deacon Nicolas (Acts vi. 5), though others of the Fathers surrender him to the Nicolaitans. See book iii. cap. iv.…
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Cross-references · 22
Cited together in Church History III.31.
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 85.
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 85.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies II.20.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies II.20.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies II.20.
Cited together in Church History III.31.
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 85.
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 85.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies II.20.
Cited together in The Refutation of All Heresies VII.24.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XVIII.16.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XVIII.16.
Cited together in Church History III.31.
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 85.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies II.20.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies II.20.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XVIII.16.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XVIII.16.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies II.20.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies II.20.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XVIII.16.