Note 9 at Acts 6:4: The Greek word "diakonia" was translated "ministry" here, while the same Greek word was translated "ministration" in verse 1. In verse 1, the ministration was the job that the deacons (Greek-diskonos-1 Tim. 3:8) were selected to do and in this verse, it denotes the job that the apostles would do.

The literal meaning of this word is "service or assistance." It was used of angels (Heb. 1:14) and Timothy and Erastus (Acts 19:22). Paul used this word to describe his own ministry (Acts 20:24; Rom. 11:13; 1 Tim. 1:12) as well as others' (Col. 4:17; 2 Tim. 4:5). A deacon and a minister who fits into one of the five offices listed in Ephesians 4:11 are both servants or "diakonias." A deacon simply serves in the physical realm while a minister serves in the spiritual realm.

Note 10 at Acts 6:4: The apostles wisely chose to separate themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word. These first ministers of the church set a precedent that should still be followed today. Ministers should be occupied with spiritual things and let deacons tend to physical needs. Many a minister has become spiritually dull because of the physical demands of the ministry dominating all his attention.