Lesson: Acts 6:1-15
Introduction
The apostles were faithful in the preaching of the word of God, unashamed to speak in the name of Christ Jesus. They had been beaten by the leaders of the city and commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus. This only brought to their hearts a rejoicing, “that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name” (Acts 5:41). Their stand in the Gospel and in the affliction their bore only moved them to be more zealous in the teaching and preaching Jesus Christ (5:42).
“Lo! these are they from sufferings great
Who came to realms of light;
And in the blood of Christ have washed
Those robes that shine so bright.”
-Isaac Watts
The apostles and the church were in covenant with God. Filled with the Holy Spirit they had a heart's desire to serve both Christ and one another, especially in the teaching of Jesus as Christ and Savior. Peter had once denied his Savior three times, now he stood with the other apostles in the power of the Spirit, acknowledging in temple and home the name of Christ Jesus.
The apostles and disciples, the church of our Lord Jesus, were also learning what it meant be a fellowship which claimed the name of their Savior. The prophet spoke: “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8). They were new creatures in Christ, having the law of God written upon their hearts (Heb. 8:10).
The church was growing in the grace of God, coming to the understanding of the Covenant of the Lord that they were to be his people and him to be their God. This was to work out in the preaching, hearing, and doing of the Word. God's commandments were to emerge from heart and deed: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. ...Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Jesus, Matt. 22:37-39).
Daily Ministry –Acts 6:1-4
Our Savior, King and Lord of the church, promised that he would build his church, even conquering and smashing the gates of hell. These are God's people who are “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people;” a people who are to continually praise God because of their being called “out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
These people are those who work and eat and sleep in this world. In this they are like every other person. But as a people of God in Christ Jesus, they are unique because of the grace of God. So we see in the early church a daily need within the church, a need not unknown to us today. Because of the gospel and God's adding to his church, the number of disciples multiplied. As the church expanded so did the needs of God's people. In this case the Grecian Jews murmured against the Hebrews because “their widows were neglected in the daily ministrations.”
Whether this need was just overlooked or neglected because of prejudice, the loving and looking after of one another was brought into question.
In response the “twelve called the multitude of disciples” together, for this need must not hinder the apostles from the preaching and teaching of the “word of God.” The first responsibility of the elders of the church is the ministry of the Word of God. This is not to be done at the expense of those in physical need. There is a division of labor within the church; deacons are chosen to serve Christ and his church as ministers of mercy.
These men were not to clean basements or change light-bulbs (members of the church are able to do this without being ordained). Deacons are to be men filled with the Holy Spirit, honest in their dealings with men, full of wisdom, capable of leading the church in their love for one another. They are to develop a ministry whereby the widow, the single parent, the poor and needy, etc., are supplied with the necessities of life. This ministry “was to be a roll-up-your-sleeves, hands-on ministry requiring a reputation for spiritual maturity and an enthusiasm for helping people” (Gordon Keddie, Your Are My Witnesses).
The deacons do a task worth of their Savior Jesus Christ. The apostles (or elders of the church today) are able to give a greater effort and time to “prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” Therefore the deacons truly helped in the spread of the gospel and the building of the Body of Christ.
The Word Increased –Acts 6:5-7
It pleased the disciples and they chose seven men to do this ministry of grace. We only hear about two of them, Stephen who was martyred for his faith, and Philip who became an evangelist. Stephen is said to be “a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost.” This should be said of others also, as each were brought to the apostles for prayer, after which they “laid their hands on them.”
The care of the widows and poor by these deacons resulted in a blessing for the whole church. For the “the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly.” A great number of the priests also became obedient to the faith.
Both in the faithful preaching of the word of God, and in the care and compassion for one another, there is climate whereby those whom God is saving will find refreshment for their souls. Do we take our ministry of the word and diaconal ministry seriously in our desire to share the gospel and expectation to see the conversion of others? The ministry of grace by the deacons, encouraging the church in this ministry, should promote the faithful preaching of the word.
Full of Faith –Acts 6:8-15
The Holy Spirit recorded for us the Christian character and nature of Stephen as “full of faith and power,” going about doing “great wonders and miracles among the people.” Stephen was God's man who was given an inherent power, a special ability to serve his Lord. He also had a faith, an inward persuasion that Jesus was the Christ, and that he was to serve his Lord without hesitation. In other words, the Spirit of God endowed Stephen with gifts which showed themselves in miracles and wonders.
Stephen, whose name means 'crown,' was chosen as a deacon, but served beyond that office. He saw his appointment as a deacon as an opportunity to go beyond the serving of tables to the teaching of the word of God, the gospel of Christ Jesus. “Among the people” should remind us that we are not mere observers of the work of ministry, but participants in its exercise and blessing.
It should be obvious that what follows such faithfulness and boldness is opposition. Certain men of the synagogue debated with Stephen. However, they were not able to resist the “wisdom and the spirit,” with which he spoke. As with stubborn men who refuse to have light enter into their darkness, they spoke lies about Stephen. They said that they heard him “speak blasphemous words against Moses,” and therefore against God. They then turned their attention to the people, arousing them as a mob so that others may hear these lies.
This resulted in the elders and the scribes to come to Stephen. Catching him, they brought “him to the council.” Wisdom and truth was on his side; while false witnesses were brought in saying that he spoke against the “holy place, and the law.” However, they could not escape the truth of the soul of God's servant. As they sat at council, they looked “steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.” They saw what they refused to recognize, that Stephen was a true messenger from Jehovah. His faith was grounded in Christ. His wisdom came from God through his holy Word. His power revealed strength of Christian character that made him look squarely in the face of his accusers. He did not flinch because he was Christ's. And as Christ suffered, so must he.
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him” (James 1:12).
Robert L. LaMay, Asst. Editor, Christian Observer
Introduction
The apostles were faithful in the preaching of the word of God, unashamed to speak in the name of Christ Jesus. They had been beaten by the leaders of the city and commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus. This only brought to their hearts a rejoicing, “that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name” (Acts 5:41). Their stand in the Gospel and in the affliction their bore only moved them to be more zealous in the teaching and preaching Jesus Christ (5:42).
“Lo! these are they from sufferings great
Who came to realms of light;
And in the blood of Christ have washed
Those robes that shine so bright.”
-Isaac Watts
The apostles and the church were in covenant with God. Filled with the Holy Spirit they had a heart's desire to serve both Christ and one another, especially in the teaching of Jesus as Christ and Savior. Peter had once denied his Savior three times, now he stood with the other apostles in the power of the Spirit, acknowledging in temple and home the name of Christ Jesus.
The apostles and disciples, the church of our Lord Jesus, were also learning what it meant be a fellowship which claimed the name of their Savior. The prophet spoke: “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8). They were new creatures in Christ, having the law of God written upon their hearts (Heb. 8:10).
The church was growing in the grace of God, coming to the understanding of the Covenant of the Lord that they were to be his people and him to be their God. This was to work out in the preaching, hearing, and doing of the Word. God's commandments were to emerge from heart and deed: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. ...Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Jesus, Matt. 22:37-39).
Daily Ministry –Acts 6:1-4
Our Savior, King and Lord of the church, promised that he would build his church, even conquering and smashing the gates of hell. These are God's people who are “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people;” a people who are to continually praise God because of their being called “out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
These people are those who work and eat and sleep in this world. In this they are like every other person. But as a people of God in Christ Jesus, they are unique because of the grace of God. So we see in the early church a daily need within the church, a need not unknown to us today. Because of the gospel and God's adding to his church, the number of disciples multiplied. As the church expanded so did the needs of God's people. In this case the Grecian Jews murmured against the Hebrews because “their widows were neglected in the daily ministrations.”
Whether this need was just overlooked or neglected because of prejudice, the loving and looking after of one another was brought into question.
In response the “twelve called the multitude of disciples” together, for this need must not hinder the apostles from the preaching and teaching of the “word of God.” The first responsibility of the elders of the church is the ministry of the Word of God. This is not to be done at the expense of those in physical need. There is a division of labor within the church; deacons are chosen to serve Christ and his church as ministers of mercy.
These men were not to clean basements or change light-bulbs (members of the church are able to do this without being ordained). Deacons are to be men filled with the Holy Spirit, honest in their dealings with men, full of wisdom, capable of leading the church in their love for one another. They are to develop a ministry whereby the widow, the single parent, the poor and needy, etc., are supplied with the necessities of life. This ministry “was to be a roll-up-your-sleeves, hands-on ministry requiring a reputation for spiritual maturity and an enthusiasm for helping people” (Gordon Keddie, Your Are My Witnesses).
The deacons do a task worth of their Savior Jesus Christ. The apostles (or elders of the church today) are able to give a greater effort and time to “prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” Therefore the deacons truly helped in the spread of the gospel and the building of the Body of Christ.
The Word Increased –Acts 6:5-7
It pleased the disciples and they chose seven men to do this ministry of grace. We only hear about two of them, Stephen who was martyred for his faith, and Philip who became an evangelist. Stephen is said to be “a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost.” This should be said of others also, as each were brought to the apostles for prayer, after which they “laid their hands on them.”
The care of the widows and poor by these deacons resulted in a blessing for the whole church. For the “the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly.” A great number of the priests also became obedient to the faith.
Both in the faithful preaching of the word of God, and in the care and compassion for one another, there is climate whereby those whom God is saving will find refreshment for their souls. Do we take our ministry of the word and diaconal ministry seriously in our desire to share the gospel and expectation to see the conversion of others? The ministry of grace by the deacons, encouraging the church in this ministry, should promote the faithful preaching of the word.
Full of Faith –Acts 6:8-15
The Holy Spirit recorded for us the Christian character and nature of Stephen as “full of faith and power,” going about doing “great wonders and miracles among the people.” Stephen was God's man who was given an inherent power, a special ability to serve his Lord. He also had a faith, an inward persuasion that Jesus was the Christ, and that he was to serve his Lord without hesitation. In other words, the Spirit of God endowed Stephen with gifts which showed themselves in miracles and wonders.
Stephen, whose name means 'crown,' was chosen as a deacon, but served beyond that office. He saw his appointment as a deacon as an opportunity to go beyond the serving of tables to the teaching of the word of God, the gospel of Christ Jesus. “Among the people” should remind us that we are not mere observers of the work of ministry, but participants in its exercise and blessing.
It should be obvious that what follows such faithfulness and boldness is opposition. Certain men of the synagogue debated with Stephen. However, they were not able to resist the “wisdom and the spirit,” with which he spoke. As with stubborn men who refuse to have light enter into their darkness, they spoke lies about Stephen. They said that they heard him “speak blasphemous words against Moses,” and therefore against God. They then turned their attention to the people, arousing them as a mob so that others may hear these lies.
This resulted in the elders and the scribes to come to Stephen. Catching him, they brought “him to the council.” Wisdom and truth was on his side; while false witnesses were brought in saying that he spoke against the “holy place, and the law.” However, they could not escape the truth of the soul of God's servant. As they sat at council, they looked “steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.” They saw what they refused to recognize, that Stephen was a true messenger from Jehovah. His faith was grounded in Christ. His wisdom came from God through his holy Word. His power revealed strength of Christian character that made him look squarely in the face of his accusers. He did not flinch because he was Christ's. And as Christ suffered, so must he.
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him” (James 1:12).
Robert L. LaMay, Asst. Editor, Christian Observer