Acts Chapter 6 Verses 1-7   

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. 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. 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. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 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 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 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.”

“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.”  Clearly it is taught that the church should take care of the widows and needy in the congregation.  Failing to see to the needs of the widows is a reproach to the church and a reflection of the attitude of its members often resulting in the ministers of the gospel being blamed.  The situation had arisen in the church at Jerusalem that the number of the disciples had greatly multiplied.  About 3000 were added on the day of Pentecost and then another time about 5000 were added and it was said that the Lord added to the church daily.  Clearly there were thousands of disciples in this early church.  Moreover, a portion of the widows in the church who had needs were being neglected.  This led to a division in the church over the situation. 

“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.  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.”  The ministers of the gospel, which at this time were the 12 apostles had a lot of work to do in ministering the word of God.  For them to leave off the ministry of the word to serve tables would be counterproductive in their efforts to minister the word which the Lord had called them to do.  Their admonition to the church was for them to look out seven men among them whom the gospel ministers might appoint over the business of seeing to the needs of the needy widows amongst them and the other needs of the church that would hinder the gospel ministers from ministering the word of God. 

These seven men would not just be any seven men in the congregation, but would be seven men who had certain qualifications for the task before them.  These men were to be of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom.  These qualities were essential for the business they were to be appointed to.  Later in the scriptures these men were called deacons.  These men were not appointed to do all the work or to provide all the resources for the tasks they were charged with, but were to oversee that the work was done by the church. 

“But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”  The above passage of scripture teaches us that the office of deacon was established to relieve the gospel ministers so that they could give their time to prayer and the ministry of the word.  Therefore the deacons in the church have the responsibility to see that the needy in the congregation are cared for and to relieve the gospel ministers from those duties that would prevent them from giving their time to prayer and the ministry of the word.  Today, that would include taking care of the physical and financial needs of the meeting house and grounds and seeing that the congregation helps the gospel ministers to be able to give more of their time to prayer and the ministry of the word. 

“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.”  In this we notice both a difference and a similarity between the office of deacon and the office of an elder.  First the deacon is chosen by the church, while the elder is called by the Lord.  However, they are both ordained to the office work in the church.  In both cases the ordination by the presbytery consists of prayer and the laying on of hands. 

“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.”  The gospel message was going forth greatly after the apostles were beaten.  The presence and work of the Holy Spirit was being greatly manifested.  Persecution was sure to follow. 

Verses 8-15 

Acts 6:8 “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. 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. 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. 11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. 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, 13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: 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. 15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.”

And now we see the persecution continue.  We should understand that these people are like our corrupt political system today.  They would do anything to maintain their power and control.  This included lying and murder if it fulfilled their purpose.  They didn’t care about the welfare of the people nor did they have true compassion for them, even though they expressed compassion but it was not real.  The one thing they wanted was to maintain their power and control. 

“And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.”  This man, Stephen, who had just recently been ordained as a deacon in the church at Jerusalem, was now manifesting the spiritual gifts the Lord had given him.  He was full of faith, as would soon become evident as he will make his defense against the false charges laid to him.  The power he had was as a result of him being filled with the Holy Ghost.  Going forth with the leadership and filling of the Holy Spirit he manifest this power with great wonders and miracles among the people.  One thing this shows us is that the gifts of wonders and miracles was not limited to the apostles, but also was present among those on whom the apostles laid hands.  

“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.  And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.”  When you have and know and can defend the truth, then even if people dispute with you, they cannot resist the wisdom and spirit that the truth brings.  I have experienced that when people have confront the truth and try to argue some false doctrine that when you show them by the scriptures the error of their belief system so that it cannot be sustain, that usually they will then make an attack against your character, even if they don’t know you personally.  This has happened to me several times. 

“Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.”

The word, suborned, means to collude with.  Here we see collusion whereby these false religionists had colluded with liars to bring false charges against Stephen.  They declared they had heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.  These reports were fabricated lies designed to stir up the people against Stephen:  “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…”  Now the council has already shown their disdain and hatred toward the disciples of Christ and were altogether ready to hear false charges brought against a disciple of Christ.

“And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.”  Again we see that these were false witnesses and were of course bearing false witness against Stephen. 

“And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.”  It is truly amazing how that the Lord can show even his enemies the wickedness to which they plan and do.  The very fact that Stephen’s face appeared as a face of an angel was a testimony to these wicked men that what they were about to do was against the very God in which they claimed to worship and serve.