Deacons Chosen To Serve
June 5, 2019
Commentary
The early church was faced with a big problem involving money (v. 1). There were two groups: the Hellenistic Jews (Greek speaking) and the Hebrew Jews (Aramaic speaking). The Hellenists said that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. Tension developed, threatening a division. The Apostles held a church council to discuss the matter with everyone (v. 2). The Apostles admitted that they were to blame, but they also knew where their priorities should lie, not in serving tables but in prayer and the ministry of the Word. They proceeded, therefore, to appoint seven men to take care of this matter and serve tables. The requirements for these men were not business experience, financial success, or organizational ability. They should be Good (in reputation), they should be Godly (full of the Spirit), and they should be Gifted (full of wisdom) (v. 3). The people chose Stephen, Philip, and five others to serve as deacons (vv. 5-6), and the church continued to grow (v. 7).
Up to this point, it seems that only the apostles had performed the sign gifts, but Stephen, a newly appointed deacon, was allowed to perform them as well. His ministry was among the Hellenistic Jews, the “Libertines” (vv. 8-9). This group engaged Stephen in hot debate over the Messiahship of Jesus and the importance of temple worship. The Jews felt threatened by his arguments, but none were able to match his wisdom and power in debate (v. 10). They hired informers to distort Stephen’s words in the most damaging way possible (v. 11). Stephen was soon seized and brought before the counsel for trial (v. 12). His supposed crimes were speaking against the temple, against the law of Moses, and against God (vv. 11, 13). In their version of Stephen’s message, Jesus was going to destroy the temple and change the laws of Moses (v. 14). This was a complete fabrication of course. As they gazed at Stephen’s face, it glowed like the face of an angel (v. 15).
Application
What would I say is the most pressing problem facing the church at large today? What can I be doing to help solve the problem?
Acts 6:1– 15 (NET)
1 Now in those days, when the disciples were growing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Greek-speaking Jews against the native Hebraic Jews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the twelve called the whole group of the disciples together and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to wait on tables. 3 But carefully select from among you, brothers, seven men who are well-attested, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this necessary task. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 The proposal pleased the entire group, so they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a Gentile convert to Judaism from Antioch. 6 They stood these men before the apostles, who prayed and placed their hands on them. 7 The word of God continued to spread, the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.
8 Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. 9 But some men from the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, as well as some from Cilicia and the province of Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. 10 Yet they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. 11 Then they secretly instigated some men to say, “We have heard this man speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 They incited the people, the elders, and the experts in the law; then they approached Stephen, seized him, and brought him before the council. 13 They brought forward false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop saying things against this holy place and the law. 14 For we have heard him saying that Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.” 15 All who were sitting in the council looked intently at Stephen and saw his face was like the face of an angel.