Acts 6:1- 7 The Choosing of the Seven
vs 1: "In those days when the number of disciples was increasing....." The comments following are of interest because the account speaks of both Grecian Jews and Hebraic Jews. According to LAN, the Hebraic Jews were the native Jews living in Jerusalem who spoke Hebrew and/or Aramaic. The Grecian Jews were Greek speaking Christians who were probably Jews from other lands and who had been converted at Pentecost. It would make sense that they spoke Greek in order to communicate with the others as they all spoke different languages native to their own lands (Acts 2: 5,8).
A need arose to take care of the widows from the other lands who were being overlooked in "the daily distribution of food". In order to allow the Apostles to remain focused on "prayer and the ministry of the word" (vs 4), they choose 7 men among them (meaning they were Greek Jews according to the notes) to handle this ministry. These men were required to be "known (witnesses) to be full of the Spirit and wisdom" (vs 3). This means to me that even though they either weren't all Baptized in the Holy Spirit or that they were all Baptized in the Holy Spirit but did not remain or seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit or operate out of the filling of the Holy Spirit. In my opinion it is the latter. I think we need to be Baptized in the Holy Spirit and continue to seek to live in obedience to His leading and promptings and to be filled with Him so that we are not filled with ourselves and our human nature.
Notice some soon to be familiar names mentioned in vs 5 "....They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip,......
vs 7 "So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith."
LAN: Jesus had told the apostles that they were to witness first in Jerusalem (1:8). In a short time, their message had infiltrated the entire city and all levels of society. Even some priests were being converted, an obvious violation of the wishes of the council that would endanger their position.
Stephen's Ministry and "Arrest"
vs 8: "Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people."
Note that "miraculous signs and wonders" were not limited to the Apostles, albeit Stephen had been given leadership responsibilities. Acts 6:5 "They presented these [speaking of the seven] men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them". The apostles had given charge to the Greek Jewish disciples to pick seven of their men for this duty. After they had chosen them, they presented these men to the Apostles who prayed over them. Laying on of hands specific to their culture and custom. LAN: In the early church, the chosen men were ordained or commissioned (set apart by prayer and laying on of hands) by the apostles. Laying hands on someone, an ancient Jewish practice, was a way to set a person apart for special service (see Numbers 27:23, Deuteronomy 34:9). Q. Is there any mention anywhere else where a disciple performed signs and wonders?
What miraculous signs did Stephen do? The only thing noted (which does not mean it was necessarily inclusive/exclusive although it does not specifically say he performed healings) by the Scriptures is that "opposition arose; however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called) .....[LAN: these were a group of Jewish slaves who had been freed by Rome and had formed their own synagogue in Jerusalem. Q. When was this group established? Before Jesus' ministry? ][Their opposition to Stephens evangelism may have been self-serving in that they may have feared Roman opposition/retaliation. They like the Jewish leaders in Jesus ministry, raised false accusations against Stephen vss 11, 13]. "These men began to argue with Stephen, but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke'. The evidence of the Spirit in Stephen was his boldness and the wisdom in which he spoke.
The false witnesses told the Sanhedrin vs 13 "This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us." LAN: The group falsely accused Stephen of wanting to change Moses customs because they knew that the Sadducees who controlled the council believed only in Moses' laws.
How did Stephen respond to these accusations? Before Stephen could respond to these charges it is noted vs 15 "All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel."
What does a face of an angel look like? I can only imagine peace and a sweetness that can only be explained as the witness of the Spirit in the countenance he displayed in the face of such opposition.
vs 1: "In those days when the number of disciples was increasing....." The comments following are of interest because the account speaks of both Grecian Jews and Hebraic Jews. According to LAN, the Hebraic Jews were the native Jews living in Jerusalem who spoke Hebrew and/or Aramaic. The Grecian Jews were Greek speaking Christians who were probably Jews from other lands and who had been converted at Pentecost. It would make sense that they spoke Greek in order to communicate with the others as they all spoke different languages native to their own lands (Acts 2: 5,8).
A need arose to take care of the widows from the other lands who were being overlooked in "the daily distribution of food". In order to allow the Apostles to remain focused on "prayer and the ministry of the word" (vs 4), they choose 7 men among them (meaning they were Greek Jews according to the notes) to handle this ministry. These men were required to be "known (witnesses) to be full of the Spirit and wisdom" (vs 3). This means to me that even though they either weren't all Baptized in the Holy Spirit or that they were all Baptized in the Holy Spirit but did not remain or seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit or operate out of the filling of the Holy Spirit. In my opinion it is the latter. I think we need to be Baptized in the Holy Spirit and continue to seek to live in obedience to His leading and promptings and to be filled with Him so that we are not filled with ourselves and our human nature.
Notice some soon to be familiar names mentioned in vs 5 "....They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip,......
vs 7 "So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith."
LAN: Jesus had told the apostles that they were to witness first in Jerusalem (1:8). In a short time, their message had infiltrated the entire city and all levels of society. Even some priests were being converted, an obvious violation of the wishes of the council that would endanger their position.
Stephen's Ministry and "Arrest"
vs 8: "Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people."
Note that "miraculous signs and wonders" were not limited to the Apostles, albeit Stephen had been given leadership responsibilities. Acts 6:5 "They presented these [speaking of the seven] men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them". The apostles had given charge to the Greek Jewish disciples to pick seven of their men for this duty. After they had chosen them, they presented these men to the Apostles who prayed over them. Laying on of hands specific to their culture and custom. LAN: In the early church, the chosen men were ordained or commissioned (set apart by prayer and laying on of hands) by the apostles. Laying hands on someone, an ancient Jewish practice, was a way to set a person apart for special service (see Numbers 27:23, Deuteronomy 34:9). Q. Is there any mention anywhere else where a disciple performed signs and wonders?
What miraculous signs did Stephen do? The only thing noted (which does not mean it was necessarily inclusive/exclusive although it does not specifically say he performed healings) by the Scriptures is that "opposition arose; however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called) .....[LAN: these were a group of Jewish slaves who had been freed by Rome and had formed their own synagogue in Jerusalem. Q. When was this group established? Before Jesus' ministry? ][Their opposition to Stephens evangelism may have been self-serving in that they may have feared Roman opposition/retaliation. They like the Jewish leaders in Jesus ministry, raised false accusations against Stephen vss 11, 13]. "These men began to argue with Stephen, but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke'. The evidence of the Spirit in Stephen was his boldness and the wisdom in which he spoke.
The false witnesses told the Sanhedrin vs 13 "This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us." LAN: The group falsely accused Stephen of wanting to change Moses customs because they knew that the Sadducees who controlled the council believed only in Moses' laws.
How did Stephen respond to these accusations? Before Stephen could respond to these charges it is noted vs 15 "All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel."
What does a face of an angel look like? I can only imagine peace and a sweetness that can only be explained as the witness of the Spirit in the countenance he displayed in the face of such opposition.