Deacons Chosen To Serve

Acts 6:1–15
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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?