Sermon Tone Analysis

Infallibility of the Scriputes

Acts 6:1

Hellonists - Greek speaking Jews (most people spoke Greek at this time).

The Hebrews were native Palestinian Jews who would speak Aramaic as their primary language and attend Hebrew-speaking synagogues, they would probably understand Greek (it being like the ‘English’ of the day), but wouldn’t be as fluent in general.

Hellonists - Greek speaking Jews (most people spoke Greek at this time).

So common was Greek that between ~280 B.C. the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament was created by 70-72 scholars (6 each from each of the 12 tribes of Israel) at the request of Ptolemy II Philadelphus, the Egyptian Pharaoh during the literary height of the Alexandrian Court, and the builder of the great Library of Alexandria.

This translation survives to this day and is how we know with absolute certainty that the prophecies of Jesus, present in the OT, predate him by 100s of years.

The Church is growing rapidly, and no longer encompasses just Jerusalem and Hebrew Jews, but is reaching the diaspora, those Jews that live outside of Palestine.

These Jews would speak Greek, and would be far more numerous.

It was also starting to reach gentile converts for Judaism (Nicolaus the proselyte or Gentile convert).

So common were Hellonists that around ~280 B.C. the Septuagint (Greek translation) of the Old Testament was created by 70-72 scholars (6 each from each of the 12 tribes of Israel) at the request of Ptolemy II Philadelphus, the Egyptian Pharaoh during the literary height of the Alexandrian Court, and the builder of the great Library of Alexandria.

This translation survives to this day and is how we know with absolute certainty that the prophecies of Jesus, present in the OT, predate him by 100s of years.

And it is on this that Stephen will elaborate soon.

The solution to a problem

Don’t lose focus! - Notice the Apostles don’t dismiss the problem, but recognize that they shouldn’t be pulled away from their primary purpose - to preach the word of God

Appoint - It’s easy to miss, but the 7 names chosen to resolve the issue are all Greek names, these are Hellonists!

But look what qualified them to serve?

Anoint - Having chosen others to serve, they anoint them, pray for them and grant them authority, which equips them to succeed.

What he have is the formation of the churches first Deaconate (Deacons - to serve)

Stephen and Philip don’t just serve here but God will use them mightily in the chapters to come.

Success

The new Deacons were extremely successful in ensuring the church modeled Christ in it’s compassion and charity, so much so, that even the priests that had persecuted them started coming to faith!