{4} Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they {e} laid their hands on them.

(4) The ancient Church, with the laying on of hands, as it were consecrated to the Lord those who were lawfully elected.

(e) This ceremony of the laying on of hands came from the Jews, who used this ceremony both in public affairs, and in the offering of sacrifices, and also in private prayers and blessings, as appears in Ge 48:13-22; and the Church also observed this ceremony, as is evident from 1Ti 5:22; Ac 8:17. However, there is no mention made here either of cream, or shaving, or razing, or crossing, etc.

People's New Testament

6:6 Whom they set before the apostles. There has been some discussion whether these seven were deacons, and whether this is the origin of the deacon's office in the church. They are never called deacons, but the Greek word diakoneo, rendered to serve (Ac 6:2), is the verb form of which the Greek word diakonos, deacon, is the noun. The usual view is that they were deacons.

And when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. The scriptural method of inducting into office. The prayer and imposition of hands was an appeal to God to give the necessary gifts rather than their impartation. See Nu 27:23 Ge 48:13.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

6. when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them-the one proclaiming that all official gifts flowed from the Church's glorified Head, the other symbolizing the communication of these to the chosen office-bearers through the recognized channels.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

6:1-7 Hitherto the disciples had been of one accord; this often had been noticed to their honour; but now they were multiplied, they began to murmur. The word of God was enough to take up all the thoughts, cares, and time of the apostles. The persons chosen to serve tables must be duly qualified. They must be filled with gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost, necessary to rightly managing this trust; men of truth, and hating covetousness. All who are employed in the service of the church, ought to be commended to the Divine grace by the prayers of the church. They blessed them in the name of the Lord. The word and grace of God are greatly magnified, when those are wrought upon by it, who were least likely.