THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 6, Choosing The Seven

 

THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 6,

 

Choosing the Seven

 These are the works of the Apostles.

Acts 6:1, Now at this time, as the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint developed on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. Verse 2. So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. Verse 3. Instead, brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. Verse 4. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” Verse 5. The announcement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. Verse 6. And they brought these men before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.

(Commentary Break): This chapter begins with these important words: “Now at this time, as the disciples were increasing in number”. Too often, the idea of being a disciple of Jesus is disassociated from the idea of becoming a Christian. But they are one-and-the-same. Every new believer is to become a disciple. The Greek term, “mathétés”, refers to a disciple or follower, someone who learns from a teacher. In the New Testament, it is used to describe the followers of Jesus Christ, who were committed to learning from His teachings and emulating His life. Jesus, in Matthew 4:19, calls His first disciples, saying, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men”. The word, “follow” in the Greek language, is “deute”, and is an imperative command and not just an invitation. It is a call to draw near to the teacher; to look over His shoulder in order to closely observer the teacher’s ways and forever to be identified with that Teacher, and in this case, Jesus.

 I am emphasizing the point because the vast majority of current-day Christian disciples only identify with Jesus using the moniker of Christian and avoid the responsibilities as His disciple. Jesus, in this same chapter of Matthew, verse 23, “went about in all of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, healing every disease and every sickness among the people”. This is repeated throughout His ministry, particularly in Matthew chapter 10 when He said to His disciples, “preach, saying the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Do not acquire gold, silver or copper for your money belts.” Tell me of just one true disciple, follower of Jesus who does this. We have created a professional clergy that in so many ways are prouder, more arrogant and slothful, and some are even more wicked than the Pharisees of Jesus’ ministry. This must change before He returns. His remnant is coming. Be His remnant from where you stand this moment!

Secondly, we should be astonished that some Jews, who had come to confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, would engage in disputes and arguments with their brethren about the polity of the Church. This is especially astonishing considering that Jesus has only recently ascended and already disputes have begun. This is the beginning of what Jesus prophetically spoke about when He said there would be divisions and dissensions within His Church, which would eventually lead to widespread deception, delusions and apostasy (falling away from the faith).

 This can be seen in the prophesied Birth Pains of the Fifth Seal of the Tribulation period. And, we are indeed seeing the amplification and intensification of apostasy in our Churches today, as we draw nearer to the End of The Age. (Also see The False Church Emerges).

 We are seeing the first appointment of men into the office of deacon to serve the people in the Church so the Apostles and teachers could continue to minister the word. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 7. The word of God kept spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

Verse 8. And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. Verse 9. But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. Verse 10. But they were unable to cope with his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking. Verse 11. Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” Verse 12. And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away, and brought him before the Council. Verse 13. They put forward false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop speaking against this holy place and the Law; verse 14, for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses handed down to us.”

(Commentary Break): First, Key Points: Despite the stresses and divisions within His Church, the Word of God kept spreading; the number of disciples kept increasing; the priests were becoming obedient to the word.

Then there were the ‘gatekeepers of the law and tradition’. The Synagogue of the Freedmen. They had correctly heard Stephen and Jesus but decided that this was a threat to their small grip on power. They would not accept the truth. So, like so many ‘leaders’, even in our churches today, they conspire to twist the truth to fit their narrative and will deny the Gospel at any cost. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 15. And all who were sitting in the Council stared at him, and they saw his face, which was like the face of an angel. (End chapter 6).

Little about men and women has changed, even to this day. There are local church leaders and so-called pastors, today, where you live, who will defend their own twisted version of Christianity and attempt to tighten their flimsy grip on power, craving recognition for themselves at the expense of the Gospel and the true disciples.  They are selfish and arrogant. They destroy instead of building up. They claim to have the anointing of God, but they do not. They marginalize, taunt, deceive, bully and abuse the flock of God. The Apostle Paul says we are to expose them, avoid them and run from them!

We will see in the next chapter that the Pharisaical spirit is alive and well in the fledgling church, killing, stealing and destroying. So it is today.

But greater is He Who is in you, than he who is in the world!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young.

PREVIOUSLY: THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 5, Ananias and Sapphira, Imprisonment and Release, Gamaliel’s Counsel.

NEXT: (coming soon). THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 7, Stephen’s Defense, Stephen’s Death.

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