Acts 6:1

In those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Grecian Jews among them began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Luke narrates; no one is speaking. The moment is the Jerusalem church after its rapid post-Pentecost growth, when a practical failure in food distribution has hardened into an ethnic tension.

The words — plēthunontōn (πληθυνόντων), "while they are multiplying," is a present participle: the growth is ongoing and active, not a completed event. The verse frames the conflict as a direct consequence of that multiplication.

The thread — Acts 2:41 supplies the numerical backdrop (three thousand added in one day); Acts 4:35 shows the distribution system already in place; James 5:9 warns against the very grumbling described here.

Why it lands — A missed meal is not a small thing; it becomes a wedge between subgroups. The verse asks the reader to take administrative neglect seriously as a spiritual problem.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King 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.

Cross-references

Acts 2:41 Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day.
Acts 4:35 and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need.
James 5:9 Do not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door!
Acts 2:47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 6:7 So the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Acts 9:39 So Peter got up and went with them. On his arrival, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
Hebrews 13:1 Continue in brotherly love.
Matthew 23:13 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter.
Acts 2:45 Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need.
Acts 4:4 But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.