(Acts 6:1)
Neither Authorized Version nor Revised Version , except in the margin, indicates that ‘ministration’ (διακονία) in Acts 6:1 and ‘serve’ (διακονεῖν) in Acts 6:2 are cognate words; or that ‘ministration’ in Acts 6:1 is the same word as ‘ministry’ in Acts 6:4. The ‘ministration’ or ‘serving tables’ is the distribution of food at the common meals: tables of exchange for money cannot be meant. Hellenist converts complain that Hebrew distributors ‘overlooked’ Hellenist widows. The Twelve forth with initiate and regulate the first attempt at self-government made by the Church. They state the number and qualifications of the new officials, leave the election to the whole body of Christians, and ordain the elected.
A. Plummer.