Acts, Chapter 6 - Choosing of the Seven
6 Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.
o The church was growing and more and more people became followers of Jesus
o What is a Hellenistic Jew?
§ Hellenistic Jews were those who adopted Greek language and culture
§ They lived outside of Jerusalem and spoke Greek rather than Hebrew
o What is a native Hebrew
o These were Jews who lived in Jerusalem and spoke Hebrew
o They took pride in living and speaking like their forefathers
o They made the Hellenistic Jews feel like outsiders (less important)
o In other words, the native Jews didn’t always feed the widows that were Helenistic Jews
o This has the potential to become a real wedge among the Jews who believed in Jesus Christ (let’s read on and see how they handled it)
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.
o When all twelve summon the congregation it must be serious
o In order to serve tables
o They were placing a higher value on the word of God than feeding widows
3 Therefore, brethren, 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.
Therefore (because the widows were being neglected because the apostles were too busy)
Brethren (these are Christian brothers in the faith)
Select from among you seven men of good reputation
o Seven is the number for completion and perfection
o Of good reputation (what others said about them; not their own testimony)
o Full of the Spirit and of wisdom (it could be seen and their conduct would display God’s wisdom in all matters)
o What task?
o Feeding the widows
o Notice that the widows deserved to be served by men
o It would an honor to become a bondservant to serve God by serving these women
o Jesus said if you want to be the greatest in heaven, be the servant of all
4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 The statement 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. 6 And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.
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