The apostles choose 7 deacons
6
📚And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a complaint among the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.6:1 Observe that those in the early church were called disciples. See notes at Matt 10:1; 28:19. We should not imagine that they were perfect people. Here we see them divided into two camps. The Grecian Jews here were Christians who spoke Greek instead of Aramaic (or Hebrew) and who had probably been born, or lived at one time, in other countries. Aramaic was the common spoken language in Jerusalem. It was similar to Hebrew. Those Christians who spoke it were discriminating against those of Grecian background. Some believers were forgetting the unity once enjoyed (Acts 2:44-47), and following their fallen nature (compare 1 Cor 3:1-4).
Discrimination against other Christians because of language, colour, race, nation, social or financial position, or any other thing is wrong. It comes out of the sinful nature of man. In Christ none of those things has any importance (1 Cor 12:13; Gal 3:28; Col 3:11). If they cause us to discriminate against fellow believers and form little cliques with those of our own background, we are sinning against Christ who abolished these distinctions and commanded love and unity to us all (John 13:34; Eph 4:3).⚜
2 📚Then the twelve 📖 called the whole group of the disciples together, and said, “It is not reasonable that we leave the word of God, and serve tables. 3 📚Therefore, brethren, look among yourselves for seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty.
6:3 Observe that those in the church were to choose these men; the apostles did not appoint them on their own. But is it necessary to be “full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom” to “serve tables”? Yes, if it is to be done as God wants it done. To do any service for God as it ought to be done requires wisdom and His Spirit’s fullness. No one can live an hour as God wants him to live without these. So Eph 5:18; Jam 1:5.⚜
4 📚But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word”.
6:4 Prayer and the Word of God are the two chief things for all whom God has called to preach. Either one without the other will result in a maimed ministry.⚜
5 📚And these words pleased the whole group, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas a convert 📖 from Antioch. 6 📚These they set before the apostles. And when the apostles had prayed, they laid hands on them.
6:6 The apostles showed their approval of the choice of the people in this way and set them apart for the work.⚜
7 📚And the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and a large group of the priests was obedient to the faith.
6:7 If Jewish priests wanted to become followers of Christ they had to renounce their former views of Him and forsake the views of the high priest who still opposed Him. That they did so indicates how powerful the evidence was for the resurrection of Christ and for the coming of God’s Spirit.⚜
Stephen is arrested
8 📚And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
6:8 The man chosen to “serve at tables” soon discovered other gifts in himself. God may use a person in marvelous ways who is faithful in some ordinary task, and there is no telling what may eventually be the ministry of a man filled with God’s Spirit.⚜
9 📚Then there arose certain men belonging to the synagogue that is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen 📖, and Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those of Cilicia and Asia, and disputed with Stephen.
6:9 These were Jews who had once lived in those foreign parts.⚜
10 📚But they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.
11 📚Then they privately instigated men to say: “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God”.
12 📚And they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the Law, and they came up and seized him, and brought him to the Council 📖. 13 📚Then they produced false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place, and the Law. 14 📚For we heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and change the customs which Moses delivered to us”.
6:14 Compare Matt 26:61.⚜
15 📚And everyone who sat in the council, looking steadily at him, saw his face as if it were the face of an angel.
6:15 It was plain to them all that Stephen was innocent, sincere and powerful. But these haters of truth were concerned only in getting rid of him. Note on angels at Gen 16:7.⚜