Chapter Six –
First Church Problem – Stephen Accused
ACTS 6:1-7:
In this lesson, due to the growth of the body of Christ in Jerusalem and the
many from other areas remaining, an issue bubbled up to the surface. The
complaint came to the surface in the form of a murmur, so it did not
immediately present itself.
For all intents and purposes, the Apostles of Christ are acting as the
shepherds of the flock in this early setting (something that will be taught
by them, for local order – elders or shepherds in each church –
Acts 14:23; once the Gospel creates
other flocks in other locations). As such, they will demonstrate a
congregational system of order, which will become precedence by pattern.
That pattern would become – seek out by qualification and appoint for
God’s order in a local format.
Text #1:
Acts 6:1-2
“Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying,
there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their
widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
2
Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not
desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.”
Multiplying:
As I
mentioned in the intro, the body of Christ in Jerusalem has expanded
tremendously; in
Chap. 2:41, 3,000;
Chap.
4:4, they are up to 5,ooo men;
Chap.
5:14, they are adding multitudes, and in this passage, they are
still multiplying. Needless to
say, this is a vast number of saints to shepherd; especially in the face of
a daunting commission to continue to preach the Gospel.
Complaint:
This is rendered “Murmuring” in
the King James Version. The Greek word is ‘Gongusmos’,
noun; in the sense of a secret debate in the form of a complaint or
displeasure among a group or people.
This
indicates that the problem had existed in this form even before the Apostles
of Christ became aware of it. Although the problem of murmuring is not
addressed in this location, the concept of murmuring is condemned as
undermining to the foundation of unity.
Philippians 2:14
“Do all things without complaining and disputing”
Jude
associates this act with the characteristics of the ungodly, note:
Jude 1:16
These are grumblers
(‘murmurers’ – Greek – ‘Gongustes’
one who complains), complainers,
walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling
words, flattering people to gain advantage.
The
practice of murmuring has the same effect on the foundations of authority as
the surf at the ocean to the sand under your feet. The longer you stand in
the surf, the washing back and forth continues to remove the foundation
under your feet.
The
Apostles do not address the issue of how this complaint came to be; but,
demonstrate that if it had come to the fore-front immediately it could have
been handled with the proper concern and order!
Hellenists:
These are simply non-Greeks who speak Greek as their primary language. It is
used more than any other for Jews who are foreign born to Judea and have
used Greek as their primary language.
Leave the
Word of God:
It is
obvious that the needs of the widows mentioned here for the daily
distribution was a legitimate concern (later Paul would give Timothy, while
in Ephesus, the qualifications for the legitimate widows in need and the
collectives responsibility to them –
1 Timothy 5:3-16 – in addition, they
are saints, members of the body of Christ, all benevolence that has been
rendered by the body of Christ from
Acts 2 to now, has been for needy
saints); however, what we learn by the statement of the Apostles is that
there is a understanding of priority. There is no greater act of benevolence
to anyone than that of the knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The
Apostles of Christ understood this, and it should stand as a foundation for
all shepherds of God’s people to this day! Physical benevolence for needy
saints is important, but only after the needs for the souls of men and
women has been met first!
Text #2:
Acts 6:3-4
“Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good
reputation, full of the Holy Spirit 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.”
Therefore:
Based on the now surfaced understanding of the problem and the
acknowledgment of the priority; here is the suggested course of order to
take.
Seek Out:
The assignment for the implementation of this system of order is going to be
placed on the entire body of Christ (“from
among you”). They will have no one to look to after this, but
themselves.
Qualifications:
The men to
be selected out from among them, were not to be random, it was not to be
based on popularity, but on specific qualifications.
-
Good Reputation.
-
- Full of the Holy Spirit – knowledge. It is possible that the Holy Spirit being mentioned here may be speaking of spiritual gifts. We know that some of these men will demonstrate these gifts in chapters to come. As knowledge and wisdom in scripture are often tied together (one demonstrating the other and vice a versa towards productivity for the Lord – Colossians 1:9-10); in either case, this is not a random insinuation since it is connected to wisdom (the Spirit of God being that which is working through gifts and the Apostles towards the education of saints, till the written word would come).
-
-
Wisdom.
They were
to have these qualifications (not on the job training), even for what may
seem to only be a menial task to be responsible for. Once again, when we
look to the wisdom of God and use His qualifications for everything He has
given through Christ Jesus our Lord, we can know that the detractors and
grumblers, will have no ammunition and order will prevail.
As the
qualifications for shepherds will be given for their continuation in the
bodies of Christ for local order (1
Timothy 3:1-7;
Titus 1:5-9); this becomes a pattern
to demonstrate that the members of the body of Christ must select from among
them, men to fulfill this order based on the specific qualifications. In
addition, it allows us “to recognize
those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you”
– 1
Thessalonians 5:12.
Seven Men:
To the Jews, the number seven represented an oath or something complete, all
of which may have a bearing on why this is the number of men for this work;
however, it may be nothing more than the fact that the Apostles felt it to
be just a seven man job?
We Will
Give Ourselves:
Here once
again, we have the established order of priority that the Apostles make
known to the brethren. Having established this orderly method for the
supervision of the distribution, they will continue to see to the greater
charge they acknowledge has been given them (I might add that they will see
to the priority without any complaint by the members of the body either, in
fact, the saying is going to please the whole multitude).
Text #3:
Acts 6:5-7
“And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man
full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon,
Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,
6
whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands
on them.
7
Then the
word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in
Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.”
It speaks
volumes on behalf of the brethren in Jerusalem in a various amount of
subjects that they were pleased with the orderly solution, and that they
were able to select out the seven men without turmoil, dispute, or
interjecting their own ideas.
Oh, that the Lord’s people today were more concerned with the pure and
undefiled wisdom of God and achieving His wisdom and will above their own.
Laid Hands
on Them:
In the word
of God, this action has two important purposes: one, is to give approval to
those given a charge (Acts
13:3 – Barnabas and Saul); and second, to bestow spiritual gifts
(Acts
8:17).
We know
that in this case, at least the first one is surely being employed. We
cannot determine by the context whether the second is employed here or has
already been employed. We do know that at least two of these men would
demonstrate the receipt of spiritual gifts.
Summary:
When the instructions of the Apostles are followed exactly as given and
order ensues; the results are unquestionably what every body of Christ
should desire:
“Then the
word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in
Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.”
Why do members of the body of Christ, continue to deny His order; or even
worse, continue to attempt to re-write it?
We need to be diligent to seek the unity of these brethren through true
submission to the order given!!!
Next: “Stephen Accused”