Acts 6 - Summary

Historical setting

The Jerusalem church is now months or a few years past Pentecost. The apostles have been healing the sick and preaching in the temple courts; believers have been gathering daily. The city remains under Roman military occupation, but Jewish religious affairs are managed by the Sanhedrin, a council of chief priests, elders, and scribes. The apostles hold no civil power and work among the poorest of the city, in the narrow streets of the lower quarters where widows without family support would live. The Twelve sense they are being pulled in two directions: speaking and teaching the good news, which has become their consuming work, and meeting the practical needs of a growing community that now numbers in the thousands.

Life and customs

The church inherited a Jewish charitable custom: widows were a special care, since a woman without a husband typically had no means of earning bread. Daily ministration means a systematic daily distribution of food or money. "Grecians" and "Hebrews" both speak of Jews, but Grecians are those who live in Greek-speaking cities of the Mediterranean and have returned (or immigrated) to Jerusalem; Hebrews are native Aramaic speakers. Each group had its own synagogues in Jerusalem. The apostles' gesture of "laying hands" on the seven men in verse 6 was a Jewish practice of blessing and commissioning someone for a task. A proselyte was a non-Jew who had converted to the Jewish faith and lived by its laws.

What the text says

Verses 1-4: The number of disciples is growing, but "Grecian" widows complain they are being overlooked when daily aid is distributed, in favor of "Hebrew" widows. The Twelve call the full group of disciples together and explain that they cannot both serve tables and give themselves to prayer and teaching God's word. Verses 5-6: The community approves this reasoning and chooses seven men to oversee the distribution: Stephen (described as full of faith and the Holy Ghost), Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas (a convert from Antioch). The apostles pray and lay hands on them. Verses 7-8: The word spreads; the number of disciples in Jerusalem multiplies greatly, and many priests convert. Stephen performs great wonders and miracles. Verses 9-14: Certain synagogues debate with Stephen, but cannot match his wisdom or counter the spirit in which he speaks. Their members pay men to testify falsely that Stephen speaks against Moses and God, then rouse the elders and scribes to seize him and bring him before the Sanhedrin. False witnesses claim he says Jesus will destroy the temple and overturn the customs Moses gave. Verse 15: As he stands before the council, all who look at him see his face appearing like an angel's face.

Takeaways

• The practical care of a growing community forced hard choices about how apostles should spend their time, and the answer was to delegate.
• Stephen's appointment was a choice made by the community and confirmed by the apostles, not a private decision by the leadership.
• His rapid growth in power and wisdom made enemies among those who relied on traditional authority to silence questions.