CHAPTER 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.
2 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.
3 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.
4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

According to Acts 2:43-45, there had been a "pooling" of resources in order to provide for those in need.
It had long been recognized appropriate of the synagogue to care for those in need.
Now, it was also recognized by the first church.

However, as in all grace administered by people, some "favoritism" reared its ugly head.
The twelve apostles were told of the situation, and the congregation expected them to attend the problem.

The apostles made known quickly that the church needed to come TOGETHER in a manner of administering these things daily under supervision.
But the apostles weren't to take part in that.
Their most important function was to "give (them) ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the Word!"

Notice in verse 4, the apostles called themselves "ministers."
The Greek from which that word is translated is diakonos and means to serve.
That is the word from which we derive "deacon," which also means to serve.
The deacon is to serve in worship, pastoral care, and in administrative capacity on committees.

The apostles stated the church needed to appoint 7 OTHER men to attend this problem.
This would call for the church to agree on 7 specific men, and agree to their leadership.
The apostles also stated that the church should be sure these men were "of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom."
They should be men who have an active viable testimony of faith in Christ.
They should be full of God's Holy Spirit - showing evidence of His leadership in their lives.
And, they should be frugal and impartial in implementing congregationally decided policies and procedures.

In Ephesians 4:11-16, Paul says God gave people to the church with different "ministry" (deacon) objectives.
Some are called to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers.
EACH are SERVANTS (deacons)!
Each serve according to their spiritual gift, or calling.
But ALL are "given" to the church by our Lord for the purpose of helping the church GROW, individually and together.

Sometimes we get all "hung up" on this word deacon.
We try to make that term imply something it is NOT.
ALL Christians are "deacons" to some extent.
We are responsible to God and each other for SERVING (deaconship) in and through the church!!
Some are chosen to servantship as deacons, as an "office," to perform specific services described by the church

According to their spiritual gifts (which should be RECOGNIZED by the church) Christians are called and hopefully utilized in
specific forms of servantship.

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: 6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

Note that the church chose the men!
THEN, they brought the men to the apostles for approval and action.

By their names (which were all Greek), we mostly assume these were Greek-speaking Jews, having professed faith in Jesus, and become members of the church.
There is no definitive proof that all were Greek-speaking, because many Jewish men took on Greek names at that time.
However, it is generally assumed they were Greek-speaking.
Especially the one named "Nicolas," who had been a Jewish proselyte and came from Antioch in Syria.
He had been Greek, proselytized to Jew, and now converted to Christianity.
By the way, it was in ANTIOCH, that believers in Christ were first called "Christians!" ((Acts 11:26))

The wisdom with which the church chose these men gives evidence of God's Holy Spirit working through the church!
It was Greek widows who were being slighted, and the church nominated all Greek-speaking men to administer the provision!

The apostles recognized this, and the capabilities given the men by God.
So, they "laid their hands on them" as formal recognition.
They did NOT lay their hands on these men to confer power!!
The power was already evident in their spiritual gift abilities and the confirmation of the church body!

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.

Jesus said, "Wisdom is justified of her children." (Matt. 11:19, Lk. 7:35).
Indeed, the wisdom of God was displayed in the "children" of God through this church.

That wisdom led to more freedom for preaching the Word by the apostles.
It also led to people in Jerusalem and surrounding areas recognizing the wisdom in this church.
Therefore, God "added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:47)

One significant note here: "...a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith!!"
Many priests of Judaism were converted to Christianity!

No matter how literate one may be, they may not know Christ as Lord of the Bible!

8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9 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.
10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
12 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,
13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
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.
15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

This, we might say, is an introduction to Stephen becoming the first martyr of the Christian church.

Stephen, Luke says here in verse 8, was a man "full of faith and power."
By faith, the power of God is IN us.
By EXERCISE of faith, the power of God is strong THROUGH us!

Stephen was obviously a scholar of Jewish history (evidenced in his sermon in Acts 7).
He also was a very skilled orator, and skilled in debate (quick thinking to apply principles).

But more than this, Stephen was filled with God's Holy Spirit (see verse 10 above)!

Stephen was approached by scholars from different regions.
They had gathered for Pentecost celebration in Jerusalem, and were obviously more protective of their heritage than the Jerusalem Jews.
Possibly, Saul (later Paul) was one of those very outspoken against Stephen in this debate.
Saul was from Tarsus, a city of Cilicia (See Acts 21:39).
And, it is later said that Saul held the coats of those who stoned Stephen that day (See Acts 7:58).

It would have only been by the power of God's Holy Spirit that Stephen would have been able to confound and frustrate such skilled men as Saul.
For Saul was taught by Gamaliel, and was very educated (See Acts 22:3).

Nevertheless, they were "not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake!"

So....they "suborned" (payed for) men to lie!!
They PAID "false witnesses!"

Many has been the time when Christians could not be silenced because they spoke by the power of God's Holy Spirit!
Some of those times, it has been said, the only way men could,
"prove their doctrine othodox," was by
"apostolic blows and knocks!"

They captured Stephen, took him to the "council" and laid out their "false witnesses" and lies.

But the Bible says, when Stephen appeared before the "council,"
"his face (appeared) as it had been the face of an angel!"

Not only was he "full of faith and power," he was also full of GRACE!

When we are accosted for our belief in Christ,
can we debate with "the face of an angel?"

When men lie against us, seeking to prove us unfit,
can we answer with GRACE?