Acts 6
- Who wrote it
- Traditionally Luke, a doctor and companion of Paul
- Who it was for
- Theophilus and other followers of Jesus
- What was happening
- Seven chosen to serve, and Stephen arrested
What’s happening
In those days, when the number of the disciples is multiplying, there is a complaint from the Hellenist Jews against the Hebrews because their widows are being neglected in the daily distribution. The twelve summon the whole company of the disciples: "It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables. Therefore select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word." The whole multitude is pleased and they choose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. They set them before the apostles, who pray and lay their hands on them. The word of God grows, the number of the disciples multiplies greatly in Jerusalem, and a great company of the priests become obedient to the faith. Stephen, full of faith and power, does great wonders and signs among the people. Some of those from the synagogue called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rise up and dispute with Stephen, but they cannot resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he speaks. They secretly persuade men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God." They stir up the people, the elders, and the scribes, come upon him, seize him, and bring him to the council. They set up false witnesses who say, "This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us." All who sit in the council, fastening their eyes on him, see his face as if it were the face of an angel.
Why the setting matters
The Hellenists were Jews who spoke Greek and often came from the diaspora, and the Hebrews were Aramaic-speaking Jews of Judea; their widows, who depended on the community's charity, may have been overlooked because of the language divide. All seven men chosen have Greek names, which suggests they represented the Hellenist group. The text does not call them deacons, though the word for "serve" (diakonein) is the root of that word, and Stephen and Philip are soon preaching, so the line between "serving tables" and "ministry of the word" is not rigid. The apostles' laying on of hands recalls the commissioning of Joshua (Numbers 27:18-23). Nicolaus is a proselyte, a Gentile convert to Judaism. The Synagogue of the Freedmen may have been made up of former slaves, or descendants of slaves, from Roman territories; Cyrene and Alexandria were in North Africa, and Cilicia was Paul's home region, so Saul may have been among Stephen's opponents. The charges against Stephen, against the temple and the law, are close to the ones brought against Jesus (Mark 14:57-58). Luke calls the witnesses "false" because they twist what he said. The angel's face recalls the shining face of Moses (Exodus 34:29-35).
Who’s in this chapter
The twelve
Ask the community to choose seven.
The Hellenist widows
Neglected in the daily distribution.
Stephen
Full of faith and the Spirit, he does wonders and argues with the synagogue.
Philip
One of the seven.
Nicolaus
A proselyte of Antioch, one of the seven.
The Synagogue of the Freedmen
Argue with Stephen, then accuse him.
The council
See his face like an angel's.
Talk it through
- The first conflict in the church is about widows being overlooked. What does the way the apostles handled it say about their priorities?
- All seven chosen have Greek names. What might that have meant for the people who complained?
- Stephen's opponents could not win the argument and so brought false witnesses. What does that tell you about the argument?
- His face looked like an angel's. What do you think the council saw?
Read Acts 6
World English Bible
1Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service. 2The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables. 3Therefore select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.”
5These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch; 6whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 7The word of God increased and the number of the disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
8Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9But some of those who were of the synagogue called “The Libertines”, and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen. 10They weren’t able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. 11Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and came against him and seized him, then brought him in to the council, 13and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law. 14For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” 15All who sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face like it was the face of an angel.
Text: World English Bible, Public domain. About our sources