6:6a
They: As in 6:5b, this word refers to the gathered believers, except the seven men and the apostles.
presented these seven: The Greek is more literally “stood these men.” It means that the believers brought the seven men to the apostles and made them stand in front of the apostles. Here are some other ways to translate this word:
put these men before (New Century Version)
-or-
had these men stand before (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
brought those men to
these seven: This refers to the seven men (6:5). In many languages “those” would be the correct word here.
apostles: See how you translated this word in 1:2 or 5:40.
6:6b
who prayed and laid their hands on them: This further describes the apostles. It does not separate these apostles from other apostles. For the correct meaning in some languages, translators must avoid the word who. For example:
They prayed and laid their hands on them
prayed and laid their hands on them: The praying probably happened before the laying of hands. For example:
after praying, they laid their hands on them (New American Standard Bible)
laid their hands on them: The laying on of hands is symbolic of giving a blessing or authority to do something. The apostles probably also said a few words as to the purpose of the laying of hands. Here, when the apostles laid hands on the seven men, they gave them the authority to look after the poor Grecian believing widows. Some languages must explain the purpose of the laying on of hands. For example:
laid their hands on them ⌊and commissioned them to that task⌋
-or-
laid their hands on them ⌊and gave to them the authority to look after those widows⌋
The apostles probably placed their hands on the heads of each of the seven men.
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