Acts Chapter 6

Acts Chapter 6

1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

1. What is the difference between Grecian Jews and Hebraic Jews?

The word Grecians here means “Hellenists,” Greek-speaking Jews. They had a background of Greek culture while the Hebrews in Jerusalem closely followed the Mosaic Law. Naturally, a misunderstanding developed. The Grecians, who evidently were a minority group, felt neglected and demanded that their widows be given equal consideration with the Hebrews. This communal form of living wasn’t working as well as they would have liked. This was brought to the attention of the apostles.—J. Vernon McGee

the Grecians — the Greek-speaking Jews, mostly born in the provinces.

the Hebrews — those Jews born in Palestine who used their native tongue, and were wont to look down on the “Grecians” as an inferior class.

It is estimated that the church had grown to 25,000 by this time. Now we start to have organizational issues. Groups begin to demand their rights. Sound familiar?

2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.

2. Is it right?

Essential to the work of the apostles was their devotion to prayer and to the ministry of the word. The burgeoning ministry of charity was distracting them from this calling. The Greek-speaking Hellenists from whom the seven were selected were better equipped to serve and communicate with the widows. All of us have a ministry in the church. When the outreach ministries pull too much from the preaching and teaching ministries, we evolve into a social services organization.

In any large organization, delegation of responsibility is a key to growth.

Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: 20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. 21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, andrulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: 22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. Ex 18:19-22 (KJV)

3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

3. What was the criteria for being among the 7?

They were chosen by the congregation. Full of the Spirit and wisdom. Some get carried away with the Spirit and forget about the wisdom and truth part.

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24 (KJV)

Jesus said this to the woman at the well. The Samaritans were attempting to be spiritual but did not understand the truth. All these false religions and cults are trying to be spiritual but do not have the truth and understanding.

These were the first Deacons. Later Paul would spell out the qualification for this position within the church.

8Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, 9 but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10  These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. 11  Women must likewise bedignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. 12Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, andgood managers of their children and their own households. 13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. 1 Tim 3:8-13 (NASB)

5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, 6 namely,if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. 7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, 9  holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.Titus 1:5-9 (NASB)

They were to be spiritual men who would be able to make an application of spiritual truth. That was very important. You see, the fact that they were handling material matters was apt to give them a lopsided view of things. So it is most important that deacons should be men who look at things from the spiritual point of view.—J. Vernon McGee’s Thru The Bible

5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

4. What can we tell about these men?

They all have Greek names. One is a convert to Judaism and the others had come straight out of idolatry to Christianity. This would be an issue eventually, whether one had to become a Jew, and then become a Christian. The fact that they all had Hellenistic backgrounds shows that at least to some extent, non Jews would be entrusted with caring for other non Jews.

5. What did the laying on of hands represent?

Now, friends, there is a great deal of hocus-pocus and abracadabra connected with this matter of laying on of hands. A great many people think that some spiritual power is connected to it. They think that putting on the hands communicates something to a person. Frankly, the only thing you can communicate to someone else by the laying on of hands is disease germs. You can pass them on, but you cannot pass on any kind of power.

What is the meaning of the laying on of hands? As we saw in Leviticus, when we were studying the Old Testament sacrifices, the sinner would put his hand on the head of the animal to be sacrificed, which signified that the animal to be offered was taking his place. The offering was identified with the sinner.

When the apostles put their hands on the heads of the deacons, it meant that now the deacons would be partners with them. They were together in this service. It designated that these men were set aside for this office, denoting their fellowship in the things of Christ and their position as representatives for the corporate body of believers.—J. Vernon McGee’s Thru The Bible

And Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, And he laid his hands upon him and commissioned him, as the Lord commanded through Moses. Numbers 27:22-23:

Laying on of hands is done in connection with several things in Acts: healing (9:17), the gift of the Spirit (8:18; 9:17; 19:6), and commissioning to a ministry (both here and at 13:3).

7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

6. What would be significant for priests to join with the Christians?

Don’t miss the fact that many of the priests turned to the Lord. Some of them must have been serving in the temple when the veil was rent in two at the death of Christ. Many of them must have turned to Christ after that experience. J. Vernon McGee’s

a large number of priests. Though involved by lineage and life service in the priestly observances of the old covenant, they accepted the preaching of the apostles, which proclaimed a sacrifice that made the old sacrifices unnecessary.The lower ranks of the priesthood numbered in the thousands, of whom many were poor and may have first been attracted to Christians by their charity, under the guidance of the newly appointed deacons

By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear. Heb 8:13 (NIV)

The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming–not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, 4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Heb 10:1-4 (NIV)

For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Heb 9:24-26 (KJV)

8 Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)–Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. These men began to argue with Stephen,

7. Who were these Freedman and others who opposed Stephen?

Those to whom Stephen preached were Diaspora Jews and Greek-speakers like himself. There may have been only the one synagogue of the Freedmen, with the various names designating its constituency, or those names may represent individual synagogues. “Freedmen” would refer to Jews who had been enslaved and then granted freedom. Descendants of Jewish slaves captured by Pompeii (63 b.c.) and taken to Rome. They were later freed and formed a Jewish community there.

The place names all point to the Diaspora: Cyreniansand Alexandriansrepresent North Africa, while those in Cilicia and Asia represent the area covered by modern Turkey, also a part of the Diaspora. These men were enjoying their freedom and did not want to upset the apple cart. Some have suggested that Saul of Tarsus might have been instigating this attack upon Stephen.

10 but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke. 11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.”

8. What was the beef against Stephen?

He is the first person after the apostles said to have performed wonders and signs. His“power” was not physical strength or worldly knowledge or influence but the power of the Holy Spirit. Stephen spoke with power and his opponents were unable to compete with. He spoke about how the New Covenant and this was offensive to these Jews.

12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13 They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.

9.Why would Stephen be seen as speaking against the holy place and the law?

Jesus came and fulfilled the law. In effect the temple was obsolete as was the Old Covenant.They would see Stephen as speaking blasphemy. Telling them they didn’t need the priesthood, the temple and the written Mosaic Law. This was unthinkable. Nobody had really understood what Jesus was talking about and what it might mean to their society. Now it was starting to become clear. This wasn’t just a handful of Galilean fisherman. Now there are 20,000 people starting to understand what Jesus and now Stephen was saying..argued with Stephen. The word translated “argued” signifies a formal debate. They no doubt focused on such themes as the death and resurrection of Jesus, and the OT evidence that He was the Messiah.

14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” 15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

10. What would the face of an angel look like?

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. Ex 34:29 (NIV)

• ESVN………….ESV Study Bible Notes

• MSBN…….MacArthur NASB Study Notes

• NIVSN…..NIV Study Notes.

• JVM ….J Vernon McGee,

• ACC …. Adam Clarke’s Commentary

• BN …..Barnes Notes

• WBC……   Wycliffe Bible Commentary

• CN ……Constables Notes

• IC……….Ironside Commentary

• NET………Net Bible Study Notes.

• JFB…………..Jamieson  Fausset Brown Commentary

• VWS……………..Vincent Word Studies

• CMM………….Commentary on Matthew and Mark

• BDB…………..Barclay’s Daily Study Bible (NT)

• Darby………..John Darby’s Synopsis of the OT and NT

• Johnson………Johnson’s Notes on the New Testament.

• NTCMM…………..The New Testament Commentary:  Matthew and Mark.

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