ACTS Chapter 6
In chapter 6 we begin with some early church in-house matters that needed attention.
From verse 11 we have Stephen being singled out for intense persecution... resulting in his martyrdom.
☆ Acts 6:1...
"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."
Here we have our first little episode of discord amongst the brethren.
One guess as to who is behind this attack.
The number of believers was multiplying rapidly. Rumblings of discontent started to appear. Those who spoke only Greek complained that their widows were being discriminated against, and that they were not being given as much food in the daily distribution as the widows who spoke Hebrew.
Note... that the early Church was not only preaching and teaching the Gospel and making disciples. It was also ministering to the physical needs of people as well... as we saw in chapters 2 and 5.
The two should go hand in hand.
The apostle James puts it beautifully and practically...
☆ James 2:18...
"Yes, a man may say, You have faith, and I have works: show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
So... how are they going to sort out this problem?
☆ Acts 6:2...
"Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason (sensible or practical) that we should leave the Word of God, and serve tables."
The Twelve apostles called a meeting of all the believers together.
"We should spend our time preaching and teaching the Word, not administering a feeding program," they said.
This makes good sense. Everybody has a gifting and should walk in that gifting.
A preacher preaches. A teacher teaches. Stewards and servants serve.
The apostles are called to be messengers... to disseminate the Gospel.
The Lord gave them the keys of the kingdom and by the gift of His Spirit fitted them to be the founders and governors of His church.
To them as representing His church, Jesus gave the commission to "preach the Gospel to every creature." After His ascension He communicated to them according to His promise, supernatural gifts to qualify them for the discharge of their duties.
☆ Acts 6:3...
"Wherefore, brethren, look you out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business."
I'm not sure who took the lead here, but whoever it was, said...
"Choose from among yourselves seven men...
□ of honest report... that is, trustworthy men...
□ full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom... that is, spiritual men...
... who can take charge and manage the administrative duties which have accompanied the great growth of the Church in Jerusalem."
In a sense, this was the very first business meeting of the early church.
The number seven is God's perfect number...
But it doesn't mean that this is the number of deacons that need to be chosen for a church.
We assume that is what they are called although the word deacon is not used here.
☆ Acts 6:4...
"But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the Word."
"Then we can spend our time continually in prayer, and preaching, and teaching the Word of God."
The apostles need to continue in prayer: a minister who does not pray much, studies in vain... preaches in vain.
It is necessary that those who are called to labour in the Word and doctrine, if possible, should be exempt from all worldly business and employment. That of the ministry being sufficient to engross all a man's time and thoughts.
☆ Acts 6:5...
"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..."
What was suggested, pleased and was accepted by the whole multitude of believers.
They chose Stephen, a man who was full of faith and full of the Holy Ghost, Phillip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timor, Parmenas and Nicolas of Antioch.
Nicolas was a Gentile convert to the Jewish faith, who had become a Christian.
☆ Acts 6:6...
"Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them."
These seven men were presented to the apostles, so they could lay hands on and pray a blessing upon them.
You could say this was like a special ordination of these men for the purpose of serving the people.
Making a ceremony of this, showed the rest of the people the importance of the office and the ministry of these seven guys.
☆ Acts 6:7...
"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."
Because of this, the preaching of the Word of God increased and the number of disciples multiplied vastly in Jerusalem.
A great number of Jewish priests were converted as well.
This strategy of Satan to divide the church did not succeed, God making all things to work together for good.
That the priests, and a large number of them, should be converted, is amazing to say the least, since they were the most hard-core enemies of the Gospel, and persecutors of the saints.
But... with God all things are possible!
As we will see later... another great miracle is to take place with a very nasty little Pharisee, a persecutor of Christians... becoming one of the greatest Christian missionarys ever.
☆ Acts 6:8...
"And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people."
We now hear a little more about this amazing man called Stephen. He was full of faith and full of Holy Ghost power (this is the second mention), doing spectacular miracles among the people.
What, we are not told.
Stephen knew his God and he believed that his God could do the impossible.
What an honour to be recorded in the Book of books as a man full of faith and power.
The name "Stephen" means... crowned.
But... things are about to change.
Enemies of the church single out Stephen to persecute him and set him up for martyrdom.
☆ Acts 6:9-10...
"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."
But one day some of the men from the Jewish cult of "The Freedmen" started an argument with him... about the doctrine he preached, the miracles he wrought, and by what authority he did these things.
They were soon joined by Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria in Egypt, and the Turkish provinces of Cilicia, and Asia Minor.
But none of them were able to stand against Stephen’s wisdom and spirit.
☆ Acts 6:11-13...
"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 ceases not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law'..."
So they bribed some men to give false testimony of him, claiming that they had heard Stephen curse Moses, and even God.
These accusations roused the crowds to fury against Stephen, and so the Jewish leaders arrested him and bring him before the Council for trial.
The lying witnesses testified again that Stephen was constantly speaking against the Temple and against the laws of Moses.
☆ Acts 6:14...
"For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us."
They declared, "We have heard him talk about this fellow Jesus of Nazareth Who will destroy the Temple and throw out all of Moses’ laws."
All these were prefabricated lies with the aim to destroy Stephen.
☆ Acts 6:15...
"And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel."
At this point everyone in the Council chamber saw Stephen’s face become as radiant as an angel’s.
It appears that the light and power of God which dwelt in Stephen’s soul shone through his face, and God gave them this proof... of the falsity of the testimony which was now before them. As the face of Stephen now shone as the face of Moses did when he came down from the mount, it was the fullest proof that he had not spoken blasphemous words either against Moses or God, otherwise this splendour of heaven would not have rested upon him.
Selah!