And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
Acts 6 marks a crucial turning point in the early church's journey. We witness its continued growth, the emergence of its first internal challenge, and the introduction of Stephen, a pivotal figure who embodies both the church's service and its steadfast witness in the face of persecution. This chapter, therefore, lays the groundwork for understanding the escalating conflict between the early Christians and the Jewish authorities.
Addressing the Needs of a Growing Community (Acts 6:1-7)
The early church in Jerusalem was experiencing explosive growth (Acts 2:41, 47; 4:4; 5:14). As the number of disciples multiplied, a practical problem arose. The "Hellenists" (Greek-speaking Jews) complained that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. This wasn't necessarily a matter of malicious intent, but rather a logistical challenge exacerbated by cultural differences. The Hebraic Jews (those who spoke Aramaic), being more familiar with their own community, naturally tended to the needs of their own widows first.
This situation highlights a key tension within the early church: the need to balance spiritual growth with practical care. The apostles, recognizing that their primary calling was to preach the word of God and devote themselves to prayer (Acts 6:2-4), understood they couldn't effectively manage the daily distribution of resources. They wisely gathered the whole company of disciples and proposed a solution: to select seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, to oversee this crucial ministry.
The qualifications for these individuals are noteworthy: "men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom" (Acts 6:3). This demonstrates that practical service in the church is not merely an administrative task, but a spiritual calling requiring integrity, discernment, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. The fact that all seven men chosen had Greek names (Acts 6:5) suggests a deliberate effort to select individuals who could relate to and advocate for the Hellenistic Jewish community. This sensitivity to cultural nuances underscores the importance of addressing the specific needs and concerns within a diverse body of believers.
This passage is often understood as the establishment of the office of deacon, individuals dedicated to serving the physical needs of God’s people, allowing the apostles and elders to focus on spiritual leadership. The apostles prayed and laid their hands on these seven men, commissioning them for their work (Acts 6:6). The result was remarkable: "the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem" (Acts 6:7). This demonstrates that addressing practical needs with wisdom and faithfulness directly contributes to the overall growth and health of the church.
The Rise of Stephen and Increasing Opposition (Acts 6:8-15)
Following the resolution of the internal conflict, the narrative shifts to focus on Stephen, one of the seven men chosen to serve. Luke paints a vivid portrait of Stephen as a man "full of grace and power," who was performing "great wonders and signs among the people" (Acts 6:8). He was clearly more than just an administrator; he was a powerful witness for Christ.
Stephen's effectiveness, however, stirred up opposition. He engaged in debates with members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Acts 6:9), likely composed of Jews from various regions of the diaspora. These individuals were unable to withstand Stephen's wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke (Acts 6:10). Frustrated by their inability to refute him through logical argument, they resorted to deception.
They secretly instigated men to falsely accuse Stephen of speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God (Acts 6:11). These accusations echoed the charges leveled against Jesus himself, specifically that he threatened to destroy the temple (Mark 14:58). The Sanhedrin took notice of these accusations (Acts 6:12) and Stephen was brought before them. False witnesses alleged that Stephen was preaching against the temple and the law, claiming that Jesus would destroy the temple and change their customs (Acts 6:13-14). They saw Stephen as a threat to Judaism.
This escalation of conflict highlights a recurring theme in Acts: the message of the gospel inevitably provokes opposition from those who are invested in maintaining the status quo. Stephen's challenge to traditional interpretations of the law and the temple was perceived as a direct threat to the established religious order.
The chapter concludes with a striking image: "And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel" (Acts 6:15). This extraordinary description suggests that Stephen, even in the face of grave danger, possessed a divine radiance, reflecting the presence and power of God within him. The man whom they wanted to kill had the appearance of one who had been in the holy presence of God. This sets the stage for Stephen's powerful defense in Acts 7, a defense that ultimately leads to his martyrdom and further fuels the spread of the gospel.
And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
Acts 6 marks a crucial turning point in the early church's journey. We witness its continued growth, the emergence of its first internal challenge, and the introduction of Stephen, a pivotal figure who embodies both the church's service and its steadfast witness in the face of persecution. This chapter, therefore, lays the groundwork for understanding the escalating conflict between the early Christians and the Jewish authorities.
Addressing the Needs of a Growing Community (Acts 6:1-7)
The early church in Jerusalem was experiencing explosive growth (Acts 2:41, 47; 4:4; 5:14). As the number of disciples multiplied, a practical problem arose. The "Hellenists" (Greek-speaking Jews) complained that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. This wasn't necessarily a matter of malicious intent, but rather a logistical challenge exacerbated by cultural differences. The Hebraic Jews (those who spoke Aramaic), being more familiar with their own community, naturally tended to the needs of their own widows first.
This situation highlights a key tension within the early church: the need to balance spiritual growth with practical care. The apostles, recognizing that their primary calling was to preach the word of God and devote themselves to prayer (Acts 6:2-4), understood they couldn't effectively manage the daily distribution of resources. They wisely gathered the whole company of disciples and proposed a solution: to select seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, to oversee this crucial ministry.
The qualifications for these individuals are noteworthy: "men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom" (Acts 6:3). This demonstrates that practical service in the church is not merely an administrative task, but a spiritual calling requiring integrity, discernment, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. The fact that all seven men chosen had Greek names (Acts 6:5) suggests a deliberate effort to select individuals who could relate to and advocate for the Hellenistic Jewish community. This sensitivity to cultural nuances underscores the importance of addressing the specific needs and concerns within a diverse body of believers.
This passage is often understood as the establishment of the office of deacon, individuals dedicated to serving the physical needs of God’s people, allowing the apostles and elders to focus on spiritual leadership. The apostles prayed and laid their hands on these seven men, commissioning them for their work (Acts 6:6). The result was remarkable: "the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem" (Acts 6:7). This demonstrates that addressing practical needs with wisdom and faithfulness directly contributes to the overall growth and health of the church.
The Rise of Stephen and Increasing Opposition (Acts 6:8-15)
Following the resolution of the internal conflict, the narrative shifts to focus on Stephen, one of the seven men chosen to serve. Luke paints a vivid portrait of Stephen as a man "full of grace and power," who was performing "great wonders and signs among the people" (Acts 6:8). He was clearly more than just an administrator; he was a powerful witness for Christ.
Stephen's effectiveness, however, stirred up opposition. He engaged in debates with members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Acts 6:9), likely composed of Jews from various regions of the diaspora. These individuals were unable to withstand Stephen's wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke (Acts 6:10). Frustrated by their inability to refute him through logical argument, they resorted to deception.
They secretly instigated men to falsely accuse Stephen of speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God (Acts 6:11). These accusations echoed the charges leveled against Jesus himself, specifically that he threatened to destroy the temple (Mark 14:58). The Sanhedrin took notice of these accusations (Acts 6:12) and Stephen was brought before them. False witnesses alleged that Stephen was preaching against the temple and the law, claiming that Jesus would destroy the temple and change their customs (Acts 6:13-14). They saw Stephen as a threat to Judaism.
This escalation of conflict highlights a recurring theme in Acts: the message of the gospel inevitably provokes opposition from those who are invested in maintaining the status quo. Stephen's challenge to traditional interpretations of the law and the temple was perceived as a direct threat to the established religious order.
The chapter concludes with a striking image: "And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel" (Acts 6:15). This extraordinary description suggests that Stephen, even in the face of grave danger, possessed a divine radiance, reflecting the presence and power of God within him. The man whom they wanted to kill had the appearance of one who had been in the holy presence of God. This sets the stage for Stephen's powerful defense in Acts 7, a defense that ultimately leads to his martyrdom and further fuels the spread of the gospel.