Dear Friends,
Greetings in Christ!
In the preceding chapters of Acts, we saw the rapid growth of the early church as the Holy Spirit moved in amazing ways. In Acts 6, we are going to see even more miraculous growth, but more resistance as well. Since Pentecost, there has been a steady escalation of tensions between the church and the hard-hearted religious leaders in Jerusalem. First it was jail and threats. Then, it was jail, beatings, and more threats.
The Spirit-filled apostles ignored these threats as they continued with their ministry, right in the Temple, in clear view of the Temple administrators. As we begin Chapter 6, the simmering tensions are coming to a boil.
Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us understanding as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Acts 6
1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians [Greek-speaking Jewish transplants from around the empire] against the Hebrews [local Jews], because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration [Gk diakonea].
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 [Gk diakonein] tables.
This is how the office of deacon, which literally means ‘servant’, originated. The sharing of all things (Acts 4:34f) is getting a little more complicated as the church continues to grow. It looks as if some wanted the apostles to take over the ministration of the church’s physical needs, but the apostles knew better.
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.
Notice how the apostles are not micromanagers? (I Pet 5:3) They did not even give the church a shortlist to choose from. They simply said, You choose the deacons, bring them to us, and we will take care of it. The apostles came up with a solution this time, but Paul said if there is a disagreement in the church, do not ask the pastor. Let the janitor settle it. (I Cor 6:4)
In more recent history, the birth of America was in many ways a rebuke against overbearing ecclesiastical government. According to the author of The Religious History of America, a widespread “antiprelatical” bias contributed to the spirit of the Revolution in America. Professor Carl Brindenbaugh called it the “Great Fear of Episcopacy.”(1) This shift was a much-needed break from the Catholic traditions of the old world that had corrupted the simplicity of the gospel.
In contrast to England, where the head of the government was also the head of the church, following the Revolution in America, the First Amendment said the government “shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
This has proven to be the sweet spot. In authoritarian Communist countries, people lose the ability to make their own decisions or think for themselves. In authoritarian Christian governments, the gospel is stifled by overbearing leaders who are in the flesh.
4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
Christians who make light of teaching and preaching as if it is not all that important are in the flesh. The apostles knew how important their teaching and prayer time was, and their decision paid off (v 7).
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.
Choosing church leaders is a serious matter (I Tim 5:22). However charming or charismatic someone may be, however talented or however much they contribute financially, it is of no matter. According to the apostles, what mattered when choosing deacons was that they were honest, wise, and full of the Holy Ghost (cf I Tim 3:7-13). Those who were chosen were not from among the ‘Hebrews’. Each had a Greek name. I am sure there were qualified candidates among the Hebrews, or local Jews, as well (who incidentally spoke Aramaic, as well as Greek), but they probably thought that choosing ‘Grecians’ would nip the favoritism problem in the bud, since they were the ones who felt neglected.
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.
According to Wiersbe, there were an estimated 8000 priests who served in the Temple. That a great company of them became Christians no doubt irritated the Temple higher-ups.
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.
The ones who are starting trouble now are Greek-speaking transplants like Stephen. ‘Libertines’ were Freedmen, freed slaves or descendants of slaves who had been emancipated. Ironic, how they are opposing the messenger of freedom, Stephen, in favor of slavery. (Gal 4:21-31)
As a Jew who was steeped in Greek culture, Stephen was familiar with democratic principles — concepts like the importance of debate on public issues and direct participation in civic matters. When his fellow ‘Grecians’ oppose him, Stephen is up for the challenge.
I have been in Greece for a couple of weeks now and it occurs to me that maybe it is not only our modern form of government that the Greeks influenced. I believe the Greek culture (or at least certain Greek writings) influenced Paul and other New Testament writers as well, and hence, the church. Paul preached against idolatry in Greece, but at the same time, Greek values — like freedom of speech and the value of each individual’s contributions, virtues like bravery and self control — comport with the gospel. The author of the letter before us, Dr Luke, is said to be master of the Greek language. As the impeccable historian that he was, Luke must have also been well-versed in both Greek and Roman culture.
10 And they were not able to resist the
wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. [Luke 21:15]
11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
The Libertines did not believe in the adage, If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. They believed, If you can’t beat ‘em, pay someone to falsely accuse ‘em. When Stephen won the debate, they resorted to breaking the very law that they accused Stephen of speaking against. (v 13; Ex 20:16)
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.
Acts 6
Stephen’s name comes from the word for ‘victory crown’ (Gk stephanos), which is a fitting name for the church’s first martyr. (Rev 2:10)
A clever liar can use a bit of truth out of context and twist it to sound plausible, so the false accusations against Steven could sound true from a certain point of view. Jesus did say the Temple would be destroyed (Matt 24:2), and He did rebuke the scribes and Pharisees for the way they had twisted the customs Moses delivered to them. This technique is widely used today on the Internet with great success: Tell some half-truths, add some sophistry, delete important details, and voilà, people suddenly believe the earth is flat; Hitler was really a great guy; the Jews are not really Jews (fact check); the Jews are all horrible people. Satan is really pushing those last two hard, because the Jews are so essential to God’s plans and the prophetic template of the Bible. (Rev 7 et al)
Hence, Stephen is dragged before the Sanhedrin (or council, v 15). This is the chance they have been waiting for, but they are compelled by Stephen’s countenance to hear him out, as his face is as the face of an angel. I cannot say for sure what that means, but I cannot help but think Stephen’s face was shining like Moses’ face was after he came down from Mt Sinai. (Ex 34)
We will have to wait to unpack what happens next, but in closing, consider that Christianity does not have a man-centered power structure. One might say the structure is top-down, yet God-centered. Ordinations come from God, and if a piece of paper is given, it is only given to agree with the Holy Spirit. A rigid system never would have picked Peter to be a church leader, but Jesus did.
Likewise, the Holy Spirit raised up Stephen who,
full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Stephen started by serving tables, but soon he was led of the Spirit to do much greater things. He did not ask for permission. He just did what he felt led to do. What about you? Do you think it’s possible, for example, that the Holy Spirit may want you to go to a hospital with your Bible and read it to some of the patients?
The organized church with its man-centered hierarchy oftentimes follows what Jesus called the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which He hates. (Rev 2:6, 15) The end of this system is the one-word church, which is led by MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH (Rev 17:5), which will be the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. (Rev 18:2)
If you feel led to start ministering the gospel, do not be surprised if other Christians tell you to stop. They may say things like, ‘You should not do that unless you go to seminary first’. They probably mean well, but Christians who say such things are not in the Spirit. Believe it or not, most seminaries spend a great deal of time trying to convince their students not to believe the Bible. Therefore, cemetery is probably the last place you want to go if you want to be used by God. (If you want to go to school, a good Bible college would be a much better choice.)
Never doubt that God speaks to you. Never doubt that He wants to use you. When you are headed for that hospital to share the gospel, do not listen to the voice of the enemy telling you to turn around and go back. God used Stephen with very little training. To use Paul, the scholar, the Holy Spirit had to spend three years retraining him.
It was Margaret Mead, the American cultural anthropologist, who said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Father, help us to stay focused on You and your Son and your Spirit, and to not be distracted by the world, or the voice of the enemy. Help us to deny ourselves and tune out the noise, that we may hear your voice clearly and then respond accordingly. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
1 Ahlstrom, A Religious History of the American People, p 361.