Acts 6:3

“Wherefore brethren look ye out among you, etc.] Or “choose out among you”, as the Syriac version adds, and as the Arabic and Ethiopic versions render it; which shows that this sort of officers, deacons, must be members of the church, and of the same church to which they are ordained deacons; and that they must be chosen to that office by the whole community, or by the common suffrages and votes of the people. So the f241 Jews “did not appoint snrp, (which may be rendered) “an overseer of the poor”, in a congregation, without consulting the congregation;” which officer seems pretty much to answer to a deacon. Seven men, of honest report; why the number seven is fixed upon, perhaps no other…”

“look ye out among you--that is, ye, "the multitude," from among yourselves. seven men of honest report--good reputation (Act 10:22; Ti1 3:7). full of the Holy Ghost--not full of miraculous gifts, which would have been no qualification for the duties required, but spiritually gifted (although on two of them miraculous power did rest). and wisdom--discretion, aptitude for practical business. whom we may appoint--for while the election was vested in the Christian people, the appointment lay with the apostles, as spiritual rulers.”

“Look ye out - Select, or choose. As this was a matter pertaining to their own pecuniary affairs, it was proper that “they” should be permitted to choose such men as they could confide in. By this means the apostles would be free from all suspicions. It could not be pretended that “they” were partial, nor could it ever be charged on them that they wished to embezzle the funds by managing them themselves, or by entrusting them to men of their own selection. It follows from this, also, that the right of selecting “deacons” resides “in” the church, and does not pertain to the ministry. It is evidently proper that men who are to be entrusted with the alms of the church should be selected by the…”

“Of good report - That there may be no room to suspect them of partiality or injustice. Full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom - For it is not a light matter to dispense even the temporal goods of the Church. To do even this well, a large measure both of the gifts and grace of God is requisite. Whom we will set over this business - It would have been happy for the Church, had its ordinary ministers in every age taken the same care to act in concert with the people committed to their charge, which the apostles themselves, extraordinary as their office was, did on this and other occasions. Acts 6:4”

“brethren: Act 9:30, Act 15:23; Mat 23:8; Jo1 3:14-16 look: Act 1:21; Num 11:16; Deu 1:13; Co1 16:3; Co2 8:19-21 honest: Act 10:22, Act 16:2, Act 22:12; Ti1 3:7, Ti1 3:8, Ti1 3:10, Ti1 5:10; Jo3 1:12 full: Act 2:4; Gen 41:38, Gen 41:39; Num 11:17-25, Num 27:18, Num 27:19; Job 32:7, Job 32:8; Isa 11:2-5; Isa 28:6, Isa 28:26; Co1 12:8; Eph 5:18; Jam 1:17, Jam 3:17, Jam 3:18 whom: Act 6:6, Act 13:2, Act 13:3; Ti1 3:8-15 Acts 6:4”