Session 8
Acts 6:1-15
Memory Verse: Acts 6:7
In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus told a parable about trustworthy servants who received a “well done” from their master (Matt. 25:23). When Paul summarized his ministry, he referred to a “good fight” and a completed race
(2 Tim. 4:7). Faithfulness, not results, was the metric Paul used to evaluate his own service to Christ. We should have the same attitude toward our own lives.
In today’s session, we will look at a group of believers set aside to serve. When conflict and turmoil threatened the early unity of the church, they were called on to meet the needs of their brothers and sisters. As you prepare to teach this session, think about ways you have served Christ by serving others. Ask God to help you recognize and act on the opportunities that He provides. Look for creative ways to challenge the adults in your Bible study group to serve others as well.
Anthony served the best food in town. He also served the town. After years as kitchen manager, he knew nearly everyone, and everyone knew him. He referred to the cafe as his ministry. On his days off, he found ways to serve. An elderly lady needed her grass cut, so he volunteered. Soon, he was also cutting four other yards. He considered it as part of his ministry. Whenever people were in need, Anthony was there to help and pointed all praise to Christ. His service revealed Christ’s love through his love. (PSG, p. 73)
The passage for today’s session leads up to Stephen’s sermon before the Sanhedrin, which happens to be the longest sermon recorded in the entire book of Acts. In Acts 6, a conflict had been ignited within the church. Some of the Hellenistic (Greek-speaking) Christians believed their widows were being overlooked when it came to distributing basic necessities.
With the support of the apostles, seven men were chosen to defuse the tension and to serve well. Stephen was one of those leaders. But his good works and his powerful preaching led to his arrest and trial before the Jewish religious rulers.
In his sermon, recorded in Acts 7, Stephen recounted the history of God’s people. He began with God calling Abraham out of the land of the Chaldeans and traced the Israelites’ narrative through the lives of the patriarchs. Stephen then explained how God was with Joseph when he was sold into slavery (Acts 7:9). In His providence and grace, God used something evil—the sin of enslaving Joseph—to provide Israel’s salvation during years of intense famine. That act of preservation also protected the covenant God had made with Abraham and established a remnant that would lead to the Savior.
Stephen then recalled the history of Moses, who was born at the time when the king of Egypt had forgotten how Joseph saved his people, along with the Hebrews. The Egyptians made the Israelites their slaves, but God set aside Moses to be the human agent He used to deliver His people from bondage. Despite his leadership, the people ultimately rejected Moses (7:35). Stephen noted that Moses prophesied that another Savior would be raised up by God (7:37).
Stephen then spoke about the tabernacle and reminded them that David desired to build a place where God could live (7:46). He said that the tabernacle—and the temple that Solomon would later build—was never sufficient because God cannot be confined to buildings constructed by human beings (7:48).
Stephen concluded with a challenge to his audience. Just as Peter had done in his earlier showdowns with the Sanhedrin, Stephen showed no fear in confronting and rebuking his listeners for the way they had rejected Jesus. He accused them of being “stiff-necked” and of “resisting” God’s Spirit—just like their ancestors had (7:51).
This accusation led to Stephen’s martyrdom instead of the leaders’ repentance. Stephen was stoned to death, making him the first recorded believer to die for his faith. But he did not die alone because he saw Jesus standing at the Father’s side just before he died (7:56).
As you read Acts 6:1–7:60, outline the steps the early church followed in handling conflict—from both within and outside the congregation. What are the abiding principles? (PSG, p. 74)
EXPLORE THE TEXT
1 In those days, as the disciples were increasing in number, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. 2 The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
(v. 1) Increasing in number: In Acts 5, Gamaliel warned that the Sanhedrin could never stop a true movement from God. Chapter 6 opens with the note about the continued growth of the early church (6:1). Increasing persecution only led to increased commitments. As a result of the believers’ faithfulness, Jesus’s name continued to be preached and people continued to be drawn to Him.
Hellenistic . . . Hebraic Jews
Even though God was blessing the young community of faith with increased numbers, not everything was perfect. A complaint was raised by one group within the church, and the leaders needed to address it.
This dispute over the treatment of widows included a cultural element. While most (if not all) members of the church were Jewish, they came from different backgrounds. Hellenistic Jews primarily spoke Greek and either came from a Gentile culture before converting to Judaism or had lived in Gentile lands before moving back to Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Hebraic Jews spoke Aramaic and were rooted in traditional Jewish heritage and culture.
Culture should never define the way that we treat people—especially other believers. In Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek (Gal. 3:28).
(v. 1) Widows: The dispute also involved socioeconomics. As is true in some places today, first-century widows often faced difficult challenges. The fact that the early believers sought to care for widows was a sign of their faithful obedience to Jesus’s commands (see Jas. 1:27). They recognized that all people are created in the image of God.
However, the point of contention related to accusations of favoritism, with the Greek Jews feeling that their widows were being slighted.
(v. 2) Peaching the word of God: As leaders, the apostles recognized the dangers of ignoring the developing rift. They determined to act, both to protect church unity and as a compassionate response to the needs of every believer.
At the same time, the Twelve understood their calling and the priority of preaching the Word. This was the mission that they had received from Jesus. They faced the tension of meeting needs and getting distracted by activities that would limit their effectiveness as apostles.
(v. 3) Select: While the apostles used their spiritual gifts effectively, they also knew others had gifts that would fit this need well. These roles would be different in operation, but not different in value. All believers are called to serve Christ in the way we have been designed, gifted, and called.
The Twelve also showed wisdom by allowing the body to identify who would serve them. While they emphasized certain character qualities, the apostles trusted the Holy Spirit to point the church in the right direction.
(v. 3) Full of the Spirit and wisdom: Character is more important than competency. God will empower an individual with character to accomplish His plans. However, all the abilities in the world cannot make up for character gaps.
The men selected for this important role already had demonstrated godly character. Their reputations were solid, and they were known to be filled with the Spirit. As the events of Acts unfold, readers see how these men—especially Stephen and Philip—were used by God to serve people.
5 This proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a convert from Antioch. 6 They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 So the word of God spread, the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly in number, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.
(v. 5) Pleased the whole company: The first indication of God’s blessing was the unity of the congregation. The body that had faced the threat of division whole-heartedly backed the apostles’ plan. It should be noted that each of the men on the list—Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus—had Greek names and were probably Hellenistic Jews. This step of inclusion helped soothe the hurt feelings that created the dispute.
Along with unity, this verse is key in understanding how churches govern themselves, also known as “polity.” Since all believers are created in the image of God and filled with the Holy Spirit, they all should play a role in governing the church.
(v. 5) Stephen: In the list of men selected to serve the widows, Stephen was the first individual mentioned in the list of men selected to serve the widows and was specifically identified as being “full of faith and the Holy Spirit.” As such, he fulfilled the prerequisites laid out by the apostles for anyone selected for this position (6:3).
While Luke may have intended for readers to assume that all seven men could be described in the same way, he likely singled out Stephen because of the events described in the next chapter. In Acts 7, Stephen took center stage in a dispute with the Jewish religious leaders.
(v. 5) Convert: Luke mentioned that Nicolaus was a convert. This term suggests that he was not an ethnic Jew. Instead, he probably became a Jewish proselyte before coming to Christ. His hometown of Antioch foreshadowed the important role of Antioch in the storyline of Acts.
(v. 6) Laid their hands on them: As noted, the young church apparently decided to empower Hellenistic Jews to meet the needs of their own widows. Based on the decision made by the congregation, the apostles prayed for and set aside these seven men for the task of caring for the widows. In this story, we see that God wants all believers to use their gifts to build up the church.
Deacons
While some point to this passage as establishing the office of deacon, not all scholars agree the office was officially created at this time. It is probably better to conclude that this event pointed to a need that later developed into the office of deacon.
(v. 7) Word of God spread: Once again, Luke highlighted that Jesus’s plan for His disciples to be witnesses was working. More and more people came to faith through the testimony of His followers. The Greek uses two strong words that suggest continual growth and multiplication. Apparently, the freedom to pray and preach allowed the apostles to share the gospel in a way that was readily accepted.
In addition, genuine love and conflict resolution can increase the influence of believers (John 13:35). Believers also expand their influence by serving others. In the early church, all of these factors combined to ensure God’s blessing.
(v. 7) Priests became obedient: Some new converts were members of the priesthood, suggesting that not all the priests aligned against Jesus. It is possible the priests who believed came from among the poor priests serving outside the mainstream of Jerusalem. These priests, who may have numbered in the thousands, did not have much in common with the wealthy and aristocratic Sanhedrin. Their disconnect from the temple-based religious establishment freed them to discern and embrace the truth of the gospel.
8 Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
9 Opposition arose, however, from some members of the Freedmen’s Synagogue, composed of both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, and they began to argue with Stephen. 10 But they were unable to stand up against his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; so they came, seized him, and took him to the Sanhedrin. 13 They also presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the law. 14 For we heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.” 15 And all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
(v. 8) Wonders and signs: Stephen was performing signs among the people. These miracles were not to draw attention to Stephen or to benefit the people. In a time when the New Testament was not yet available, miracles validated the early church’s message about Jesus.
(v. 9) Opposition arose: The early church had already faced a degree of opposition, especially among the religious elite. As God continued to work, new opponents began resisting the message. Whenever God’s Word is proclaimed, believers will face opposition.
Freedmen’s Synagogue
Members of the Freedmen’s Synagogue started an argument with Stephen, but they were unable to successfully invalidate his message. As the name implies, this group was made up of men who had been freed from slavery or had a family history of slavery. The membership likely included Hellenistic Jews who had moved to Jerusalem from northern Africa or Asia.
Luke’s inclusion of such diversity highlights an important truth. While the message about Jesus was reaching people from different backgrounds, opposition was also coming from people of different backgrounds.
(v. 10) Unable to stand up: English pastor Charles Spurgeon once compared the gospel to a caged lion. We don’t need to defend it. We just need to release it. The power and wisdom that Stephen displayed is available to anyone who will live out the gospel in front of the watching world. Opponents may attack the gospel, but they will not overcome it. (See Luke 12:11-12.)
(v. 11) Secretly persuaded: The Greek word that Luke used (hypoballo) literally means to “throw under.” The term appears only here in the New Testament and emphasizes a plot or conspiracy. It suggests that Stephen’s opponents put words in the mouths of those making accusations against him in an effort to frame him. They could not fight his logic, so they turned to dishonesty.
(v. 11) Blasphemous words: In particular, Stephen was charged with saying that Jesus would destroy the temple and change the customs that Moses passed down. Just as the serpent had done in Eden, his opponents twisted God’s Word. When Jesus had talked about destroying and rebuilding the temple, He was speaking about His own body, specifically His crucifixion and resurrection (John 2:18-22).
(v. 15) Face of an angel: When the false accusations were presented, all who were sitting in the meeting noted that Stephen’s countenance changed to something like an angel. Just as angels had communicated God’s message to the people, Stephen shared the truth about God. Believers can shine in a way that brings glory to God when confronted by opponents of the truth.
The Church
Each congregation operates under the Lordship of Christ through democratic processes. In such a congregation each member is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. (See Ephesians 4:11-14; 1 Peter 5:2-4.)
Create a list of characteristics demonstrated by followers of Christ.
Read the following passages and take notes on what it means to follow Christ: Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 6:13; 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 5:20; Ephesians 4:1; Philippians 3:10-11; 1 Peter 2:10-12. After making your list, pray and ask God to impress upon you one thing that you can stop doing and one thing that you can start doing to make you a more obedient Christ follower.