Acts 6:1-7

Introduction

Acts 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.”

Luke gives us the time frame when this scene occurred.

There are two important pieces of information regarding the time frame that allows the scene to be resolved in the manner it was.

Disciples - learner, pupil - learning through instruction. The point of calling the believers disciples is to emphasis that becoming a Christian is not just a momentary decision for Christ (which sadly for men is just that - momentary - a profession but not a possession of Christ within), but is a lifelong pursuit of Christ-likeness, learning to live like Jesus lived! So although the word disciples is not used after Acts, clearly this term is still an accurate description of all true believers, those who are genuine followers of Christ.

What were they being taught - Acts 2:42 “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

The Apostles doctrine was the teachings of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit - Act 1:1 -2 “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:”

This occurred at a time of church expansion at Jerusalem - The disciples were multiplying.

The church was growing with disciples - Christians eager to learn more about God’s word.

Perhaps, the reason for this stems back to Ananias and Saphira.

The importance of the information Luke gives us is regardless of background, the church was filled with eager students who wanted truth to prevail. They appeared embrace church structure of followship.

The reasons problems are unresolvable in many churches today are people not interested in being students. They are not interested in the whole counsel of God, just their partisan issue. They are not interested in church authority, of being followers, in a biblically minded church structure.

Setting

There were three groups of Christians in the church at Jerusalem

Hebrews

Grecians

Proselyte - A Gentile - perhaps a God-fearer.

Hebrews and Grecians reflected two kinds of Jewish Christians

Hebrews - Jews who lived in Israel at time of their conversion

Grecians - who did not live in Israel at the time of their conversion. They were viewed as contaminated.

The Grecian widows were being neglected through the daily ministrations.

Neglected - overlooked or disregarded

Ministry - speaks of being a waiter.

The neglect was painful enough that they started murmuring - the murmuring was partiality within the church.

These three avenues of attack are: (1) dissension, (2) diversion, and (3) destruction.

The focus is not on blaming but problem solving.

Even though there were two problems:

neglect

murmuring - Philippians 2:14 “Do all things without murmurings and disputings:”

Even though they were disciples, this did not exclude them from poor decisions; rather, becasue they were disciples, they were open to reproof, correction and instruction.

The focus is not on blaming but resolving.

In the problem solving, consider three points

The Apostles brought the church together.

Instead of allowing activities harmful to church unity, they called the church to them.

“Then” - acts as a conclusion to the problem

Their job description

Acts 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.”

The apostles were receiving the money coming into the church - Acts 4:35 “And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.”

Prior to this time the twelve apostles had apparently been ministering to widows, waiting on tables, distributing food and funds

We have taken on too much responsibility.

In effect, they were saying, we cannot do both. We are failing in the distribution portion of the ministry - The Grecians are being neglected

“Leave” - literally means to leave behind or leave remaining

We need to focus our attention on what is important for our calling.

"It is not necessarily suggested that serving tables is on a lower level than prayer and teaching; the point is rather that the task to which the Twelve had been specifically called was one of witness and evangelism.”

Acts 6:4 “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”

This does not apply to just the Apostles but elders of the church.

Many pastors have collapsed under the weight of ministry becasue expectations exceeded their scope of responsibility.

“Give ourselves continually” - The original expression used here denotes “intense and persevering”

Prayer

H. A. Ironside was asked if he could do his life’s ministry over again would he do anything differently.  He answered, “I would pray more.”

Kent Hughes notes that "today’s average pastor according to a Christianity Today survey, spends only three minutes a day in prayer."

Servant of the word.

2 Timothy 4:2-4 “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

Dear pastor, the apostles set the template - priority to prayer and the Word. Does this describe your ministry? Or have you become busy as a "jack of all trades," stealing time from your primary call to pray and preach the Word?

The church needs a new position to deal with the crisis - Financial

Acts 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.”

“look” - means to make a careful inspection, to examine, and here to look with interest and insight at the candidates before making selections. Presumably the entire body of believers offered names to the apostles.

7 men - "Selecting seven men may go back to the tradition in Jewish communities where seven respected men managed the public business in an official council.”

Honest report - means to bear witness and it is as if their life gives testimony or witness to who they really are. Martureo is in the passive voice in this verse and means to be well spoken of, to be approved and thus to have a good reputation.

Full of the Holy Ghost - That is they are controlled by the Spirit of Jesus, because they have surrendered themselves to Him, willingly submitting to His Lordship, His will and His way in their life. Ponder this a moment -- what are they being selected to do? In essence to minister to widows (or "to wait tables"), which we might be inclined to think is of as a lesser "ministry." But these criteria clearly indicate God's high standard for what He considers to be a high position.

Filling with the Spirit is an absolute necessity for effective ministry for God. Filling with the Spirit denotes and delivers supernatural power for ministry. And remember that every believer is a minister for Jesus in one way or another.

Ministry needs filling of the Holy Ghost

Wisdom

means men who are controlled by the ability to judge correctly and to follow the best course of action, based on knowledge and understanding. While sophia is practical, it also emphasizes understanding of ultimate things—such as life and death, God and man, righteousness and sin, heaven and hell, eternity and time.

In this context wisdom would doubtless include having a practical knowledge of how to manage charitable funds. And remember wisdom is not knowledge. You can have a lot of knowledge about Jesus and doctrinal matters but be virtually devoid of godly wisdom. Here is the crucial difference -- wisdom is the supernaturally enabled ability to use knowledge from God's point of view. Knowledge can puff you up because you know so much, but wisdom makes you humble that you know no more.

So Luke gives us an excellent "checklist"  for those who are to fill positions of service in the Body - they should be (1) from the body = believers, (2) men, (3) reputable, (4) spiritual and (5) practical.

“We may appoint” - speaks of authority

Above Reproach

Acts 6:5-6 “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: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.”

Followed the guidance of the Apostles

Full of faith and the Holy Ghost a priority

During the August heat of 1891, R. G. Dyrenforth arrived in Midland, Texas, determined to blast rain from the sky. Known as a “concussionist,” he and his team launched and detonated huge balloons filled with explosive gases, fired cannons, and exploded piles of dynamite on the ground—shaking both earth and sky. Some believed he made it rain a little, but most said all he caused was noise. The explosive power was impressive but ineffective. When the early church needed overseers, they sought people with a different kind of power. They chose “seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3) to manage the daily distribution of food. One of those was Stephen, a man “full of faith and power, [who] did great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8). When disputes arose, those who argued with Stephen “were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke” (Acts 6:10).

They chose Grecians and Proselytes

Stephen and Philip come first probably becasue they will be mentioned in the next few chapters in evangelism.

All seven names are Greek, and thus are Hellenistic Jews chosen to solve the problem the Hellenistic members had raised

One of the 7 was a Gentile convert - Nicolas of Antioch.

Conclusion

The way Luke celebrates the triumph of the church over this threat is by showing its effect in Acts 6:7: "And the word of God [that had not been forsaken or diminished] increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith." What Luke is celebrating is that the triumph over this in-house problem resulted in a new breakthrough in evangelistic power. Now, even priests, who had been so hostile (Acts 4:1), are responding to the Word of God and obeying the faith. The church had been tested. She had passed the test by caring for the widows and guarding the Word. And God honored this triumph with new power and fruitfulness. The Word of God, Luke says, grew like a living thing—because the Word of God is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). It's the power of God unto salvation. We have a great message.