Chap 6 _Acts

OOOOOOOOOO Acts 6:1–7 (HCSB) Seven Chosen to Serve 6 In those days, as the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. 2 Then the Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching about God to handle financial matters. 3 Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the preaching ministry.” 5 The proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte from Antioch. 6 They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

7 So the preaching about God flourished, the number of the disciples in Jerusalem multiplied greatly, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.

Acts 6 is still reporting on the events taking place in Jerusalem and a situation came up with dispersing food. This problem was a superficial view of a greater need. The numbers of believers was multiplying; not just being added to but compounding. It was already noted the the temple leadership was now jealous of the numbers turning toward this new Jewish sect based on Jesus.

These verses are referring to something much greater than who handles logistics or distributes food. This has implications of a far more serious nature.In this case you have an early condition of “us versus them”. Christianity was a universal family, composed of Jews and Gentiles. But even within the Jews there is division or prejudice beginning to infect the early believers.

......arose a complaint better word is grumbling or murmuring behind the banks, “the old stink- eye” akin to gossiping in negative perspective

Jews who had been scattered -the Diaspora The first flinging out of Jews into the Gentile world was at the hands of the Assyrians [733 b.c.] The second exile was done by the Babylonias about 150 years later.

Those that were exiled spoke Greek. They used the Septuagint OT [ Greek translation of the Hebrew ] There were probably cultural differences. You at the differences between the North and the South a 200 years ago. There most likely different syagogues for teaching the Greek speaking. It’s probable that the Greek speaking Jews were influenced by the Greek culture that they had lived in. Their method of discussion and interpretation of the OT might have been different and worship style.

The Jews considered themselves to be the chosen people. Oftern this meant in privilege and status; not the responsible people who were chosen the deploy the Gospel and host the Messiah.

Although there is no mention of violence, there was a reason that the Greek speaking were not being attended to fairly.

Remember that this complaint is for the widow. Those were on the edge of starvation, poverty. James 1:27 (HCSB)27 Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

In Jerusalem, there was probably some class distinction against those who were not from the heart of Judaism and the home of the Temple.

The 12 [apostles] gatherred the disciliples [ we are not shure how many but it would most likely be at the 70 +] and the voted on who would ensure that the feeding of widows was done properly and fairly- without distinction between either of the Jewish camps.

They also laid out the qualifications= good repute, full of the Spirit and wisdom. You don’t need your waiters to be full of the Spirit. Obviously the church needs to attend to those practical matters, but in a way that honors Christ and loves all the brethren. This is another sign that there was something that was more significant than daily maintenance of the church activities.

So all were pleased with this idea to appoint specific people capable of keeping the church functioning in a way that honors Christ. They were in harmony. And they chose So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. Apparently,They did not choose him by lot. He met the qualifications that could perform the responsibilities of the Church in a Christian manner. In the Jewish culture In Judaism, the Holy Spirit (Hebrew: רוח הקודש‎, ruach ha-kodesh) refers to the divine force, quality, and influence of God over the universe or over God's creatures, in given contexts. So the Jews prior to Pentecost accepted the Holy Spirit, but they had never seen the manifestation, nor had the idea that the HS was God or that He would be left with you upon Jesus’sdeparture.. Many Christians even today don’t understand the Trinity [Oneness Pentecostal] or look on the Spirit as a force that can be used. They don’t understand that the H.S is one person of the Holy Community, Holy Family, Godhead. In the Catholic church God is thought to be without emotion -Impassibility. God never changes therefore there is no emotional element. What about grieving the Holy Spirit or the anger of God??Ephesians 4:30 (HCSB) 30 And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by Him for the day of redemption. It seems that they limit the HS capacity for feeling. What about God calling those his bride, or the adulterer who turns against her spouse??

The 12 would attend to prayer and teaching the gospel. A century ago, pastors usually put the initials V. D. M. after their name. This is not an abbreviation of an academic degree but a description of their task. The initials are Latin for Verbi Domini Minister, that is, minister of the Word of the Lord… A pastor, strictly speaking, is not a minister of the church, even if he is ordained by that body. He is not a minister of a local congregation, even though a church council or board supervises his work and pays his salary. A pastor is first and foremost a minister of Christ’s gospel, for Jesus sends him forth to teach and preach the Good News.

Romans 10:14 (HCSB) 14 But how can they call on Him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher?

Some pastors major occupation of time is with church building programs, business arrangements, community involvement, fund raising, meetings with the conference, weddings, hospital visits, funerals, grounds keeper, . One of the best teachers/pastors left the church burned out. He had tried to do everything for this small but rapidly growing church. He made the comment once that he had never been able to finish a meal with his family over the last two years. He was last heard of sorting out onions on a relative’s farm down near Brownsville. A contrast was another local pastor spent 20-30 hours per week preparing the sermon. He was guarded by his staff and was incommunicado for his prayer and study time.

....They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. They were anointed not only with conveyed authority but accompanied with the same hands that gave them the Holy Spirit.

...... so the preaching about God flourished, the number of the disciples in Jerusalem multiplied greatly, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith. So the preaching the word of God was productive, more disciples were being created. These were not just converts or casual joiners, these were dedicated to learning about the Kingdom. These were not people who knew about God, or who had just committed to God, but people dedicated to knowing the entire Gospel of the Kingdom, and especially knowing Jesus. Matthew 28:18–20 (HCSB) 18 Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. The Great Commission make disciples, teach, baptize. This commission. Today their is a great deal of teaching supreficially and not an obligation to learn and study, also baptism is understated. Baptism is the public commitment, that you have repented and Jesus is your Lord.!

Harmony is restored. In today’s churches that could have cause a church split.

Acts (Chapter VI)

WITH THE ORDINATION OF THESE SEVEN MEN A NEW PAGE OF CHURCH HISTORY OPENED. l. It marked a stage in the Church’s progress towards separate existence.

Acts (Chapter VI)

The seven bear Greek names, which affords a presumption that they belonged to that section of the Church whose complaints had led to the election . Acts (Chapter VI) The result, therefore, was this, that, through the murmurs of a few widows, those members of the Church were lifted into office who represented its most free, spiritual, un–Hebrew, and catholic elements. One man especially was thrust forward who was destined to rouse the narrow and ultra–national party of the Pharisees to persecution, as Peter had already roused the Sadducees, and whose death was to be a signal for the scattering of the Church. It was even to lead to the conversion of another man who should one day become an apostle himself and vindicate as an inheritance for Christendom that larger and more spiritual view of Christianity of which Stephen was the first exponent

OOOOOOOOOO Acts 6:8–10 (HCSB) Stephen Accused of Blasphemy 8 Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some from what is called the Freedmen’s Synagogue, composed of both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they were unable to stand up against his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking.

It is worth noting that among his opponents were representatives of each of the three continents then known. First that of the Libertines or freedmen, i.e., Jews whose ancestors had been carried captive to Rome by Pompey and others, and had there, in process of time, been emancipated. Many of them would migrate to Jerusalem, and found this synagogue representing the Italian Jews. It was a Cyrenian Jew who bore our Lord’s cross, and another joined in laying hands on Paul. Acts 13:1–3 (HCSB)Preparing for the Mission Field 13 In the church that was at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work I have called them to.” 3 Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.

>>>>>>The term freedmen relates to a group of Jewish prisoners of war whom the Romans under the command of Pompey captured in 63 B.C. In subsequent years these prisoners were released and built a colony along the Tiber River in Rome. Later, their descendants were expelled from Rome and many of them presumably found refuge in Jerusalem, where they built a synagogue. Scholars are divided on the veracity of a Greek inscription, referring to this synagogue, unearthed in 1913–14 in Jerusalem.

.Conversely, the Greek text indicates a division between the Jews from Cyrene and Alexandria (two cities in Libya and Egypt respectively)who had similar cultures and the other comprised of Jews from Cilicia and Asia (two provinces in Asia Minor). This means that there were two synagogues (the Freedmen, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians in one group and the Cilicians and Asians in the other).17 This later interpretation is commendable because of the support from the Greek text

All of these areas of freedmen spoke Greek.

Acts (a. Opposition (6:8–10)) The Alexandrian Jews spoke Greek, so that eventually they needed a Greek translation of the Old Testament Scripture (the Septuagint)

Both Cilicia and Asia were Roman provinces in Asia Minor (modern Turkey), where Greek was spoken. Cilicia was located along the Mediterranean coast in the southeastern part of Asia Minor. Cilicia [capital was Tarsus-Paul’s hometown- was in modern day Turkey. due North above the island of Cyprus .

Cyrenians [ North coast of Africa - good distance west of Alexandria . Alexandrians near the head of the Nile in Egypt it was the major grain port that shipped to Rome

So groups from these two synagogies from different cultures, but common language argued or debated Stephen. But they were unable to discount his wisdom nor the Spirit’s message.

OOOOOOOOOO Acts 6:11–15 (HCSB) 11 Then they persuaded some men to say, “We heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God!” 12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; so they came, dragged him off, and took him to the Sanhedrin. 13 They also presented false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law. 14 For we heard him say that Jesus, this Nazarene, will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.” 15 And all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

These freed men then got others persuaded to say that Stephen were speaking against God and Moses. They got a larger group including elders and scribes to take them before the Sanhedrin and to say blasphemy against the temple and the law.

So now the accusations had expanded as being blasphemy against Moses, the Law, the Temple, and God. Stephen is relaying what Jesus said. He is a disciple of Jesus and taught by the Holy Spirit.

He repeats what Jesus said about the temple.

John 2:17–22 (HCSB) 17 And His disciples remembered that it is written: Zeal for Your house will consume Me. 18 So the Jews replied to Him, “What sign of authority will You show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered, “Destroy this sanctuary, and I will raise it up in three days.” 20 Therefore the Jews said, “This sanctuary took 46 years to build, and will You raise it up in three days?”

21 But He was speaking about the sanctuary of His body. 22 So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this. And they believed the Scripture and the statement Jesus had made.

Matthew 24:1–2 (HCSB)Destruction of the Temple Predicted 24 As Jesus left and was going out of the temple complex, His disciples came up and called His attention to the temple buildings. 2 Then He replied to them, “Don’t you see all these things? I assure you: Not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down!”

Matthew 26:60–61 (HCSB) 60 But they could not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. Finally, two who came forward 61 stated, “This man said, ‘I can demolish God’s sanctuary and rebuild it in three days.’ ”

He repeats what the Law said about Moses.