Acts 6 (New American Standard Bible)



Choosing of the Seven

 1Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.2So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.3"Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.4"But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."5The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.6And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.

Verse 1___ Luke tells us as to how the church was growing but as with anything that grows, there will be some problems. In this case it was with the "Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews."

A Look at Hellenism

The conquests of Alexander the Great in the late 4th century BCE spread Greek culture and colonization over non-Greek lands, including the Levant, and gave rise to the Hellenistic age, which sought to create a common or universal culture (see also Melting pot) in the Alexandrian empire based on that of 5th and 4th century BCE Athens (see also Age of Pericles), along with a fusion of Near Eastern cultures.[1] The period is characterized by a new wave of Greek colonization which established Greek cities and Kingdoms in Asia and Africa[2], the most famous being Alexandria. New cities were established composed of colonists who came from different parts of the Greek world, and not from a specific "mother city" (literally metropolis, see also metropolis) as before.[2]

This synthesised Hellenistic culture had a profound impact on the customs and practices of Jews, both in Judea and in the Diaspora. The inroads into Judaism gave rise to Hellenistic Judaism in the Jewish diaspora which sought to establish a Hebraic-Jewish religious tradition within the culture and language of Hellenism.

There was a general deterioration in relations between Hellenized Jews and other Jews, leading the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes to ban certain Jewish religious rites and traditions. Consequently, the orthodox Jews revolted against the Greek ruler leading to the formation of an independent Jewish kingdom, known as the Hasmonaean Dynasty, which lasted from 165 BCE to 63 BCE. The Hasmonean Dynasty eventually disintegrated in a civil war. The people, who did not want to continue to be governed by a Hellenized dynasty, appealed to Rome for intervention, leading to a total Roman conquest and annexation of the country, see Iudaea province.

Nevertheless, the cultural issues remained unresolved. The main issue separating the Hellenistic and orthodox Jews was the application of biblical laws in a Hellenistic (melting pot) culture.[3]

In other words, problems between Hellenism and the Hebrew culture was not new. In this case, it was about the widows being overlooked for food.

Verse 2___Preaching /Teaching the Word of God is a full time job. If one has the talent to preach or teach that is what they ought to be doing and not waiting on tables.

Verse 3___ A plan of action is not set forward. Select men to do the waiting on the tables. It is in this verse that we notice that those selected were to be "FULL OF THE SPIRIT." This is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that we all receive at baptism. Notice in Verse 6 the apostles "laid hands on them (the seven) and after this they were able to do miracles. This is the EMPOWERING OF THE HOLY SPRIT. Read here for a short article on the Holy Spirit These men had to be (1) of good reputation (2) full of the Spirit (3) wisdom

Tradition has it that there were the first "deacons" of the church. Their function was to "serve."

Verse 4___ This was done in order that the apostles might preach the word.

Verse 5___ Notice, this matter was approved by the entire congregation and the correct men were selected.

Verse 6___ The apostles "laid hands on them" allowing them to do signs and wonders.

The Increase of the Word of God

7The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.8And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

Verse 7___When the church is organized correctly it will grow. Notice that "a great many priests converted to Christianity." They recognized Jesus from the law and the Sacrificial System.

Verse 8___Stephen is using his new found powers that will get him in trouble

Stephen in Trouble___9-15

9But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen.10But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.11Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God."12And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council.13They put forward false witnesses who said, "This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law;14for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us."15And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.

Verse 9___Stephen aroused opposition. There was a Synagogue of the Freedmen.

The Freedmen were Roman prisoners (or descendants of such prisoners) who had been granted their freedom. It was Pompey (106-48 B.C.)who took a considerable number of Jews prisoners and later released them in Rome. In this context the others mentioned (Cyrenians and Alexandrians) were probably those who had their on Synagogue based on nationality.

Verses 10-11___Jesus had promised the Spirit (the Empowering of the Holy Spirit), Lk. 12:12 and Wisdom(Lk. 21:15) to the disciples. This "Spirit" gave Stephen the upper hand but when his opponents could not get the best of him that charged him with blaspheming Moses and God. It is here Stephen is hauled away to the council.

Verses 12-14___ The outcry by the Greek speaking Jews raised the people together with the members of the Sanhedrin and moved them to arrest Stephen. The Greek speakers set up witnesses to testify against Stephen. They alleged (falsely in Luke's view) that Stephen was attacking the law and the temple. More precisely, that Jesus was to destroy the temple (He did in 70 A.D) and change the customs handed down by Moses. The "customs" no doubt were the "oral traditions" (we know them as the Mishnah or Talmud). An attack on the Mishnah was seen as an attack on the entire law. We must remember that Jesus prophesied that the temple was to be destroyed (Luke 21:5f) and that his charge figured in His trial in the form that He stated that He would destroy the temple and replace it with another (His body)__or the body of Christ. John interprets this as a replacement of the material worship in the temple to the spiritual worship in the congregations (Jn. 2:19). HERE IS THE THOUGHT TO BE PROJECTED___THE CHURCH IS TO REPLACE THE PHYSICAL TEMPLE. (1st Cor. 3:16-17 and Ephesians 2:21)

Verse 15___To the council, Stephen "had the face of an angel." This is a description of a person who is close to God.