“And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:”
This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a proselyte - the seven chosen are all Hellenistic names (Greek, not Hebrew), suggesting they represent the aggrieved population. Stephen is introduced with emphatic description: 'full of faith and of the Holy Spirit' (plērēs pisteōs kai pneumatos hagiou), the same language used of Jesus in Luke 4:14. Nicolas is identified as 'a proselyte' (prosēlutos), a non-Jew converted to Judaism, showing the church's reach beyond ethnic Israel.
Church Fathers on Acts 6:5
and Philip, and Prochoras, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: whom they set before the Apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. Acts 6:5-7 But let us look over again what has been spoken. You men of Israel take heed to yourselves. Recapitulation, Acts…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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