*Acts 6:1-15
To address growing tension within the early church, the apostles appoint seven deacons to care for widows.
- The Appointment of the Seven:
- As the number of disciples increases, a complaint arises from the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows are being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
- The Twelve apostles gather the community of disciples and suggest appointing seven men from among them who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom to oversee this task.
- They propose that this will allow the apostles to devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word without being distracted by the daily administration.
- The proposal pleases the whole group, and they choose Stephen, Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
- These men are presented to the apostles, who pray and lay their hands on them, formally commissioning them for their new roles.
- Stephen’s Ministry and Arrest:
- Stephen, full of God’s grace and power, performs great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.
- Members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (including Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia) begin to argue with Stephen.
- Unable to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he speaks, they secretly persuade some men to say that they have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.
- They stir up the people, the elders, and the teachers of the law; Stephen is seized and brought before the Sanhedrin.
- False witnesses testify that Stephen never stops speaking against the holy place (the Temple) and the law, claiming that they have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy the place and change the customs Moses handed down.
- At the close of the chapter, all who sit in the Sanhedrin look intently at Stephen and see his face as if it were the face of an angel, suggesting his innocence and divine favor even in the face of accusations.
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.
6:2 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.
6:3 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.
6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
6:5 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: 6:6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
6:7 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.
6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
6:9 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.
6:10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
6:11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
6:12 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, 6:13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: 6:14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
6:15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.