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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
6:1-12:25 The Witness beyond Jerusalem. Beginning with Greek-speaking Jewish Christians in Jerusalem (6:1-7), the Christian gospel was proclaimed to an ever-widening circle--to Samaria (8:4-25), to an Ethiopian (8:26-40), to a Gentile God-fearer (10:1-48), and to the Gentiles of Antioch (11:19-30). Key figures in the outreach were the Hellenists Stephen and Philip, the apostle Peter, and eventually Paul and Barnabas. The stage was then set for Paul's ministry that would go to the "end of the earth" (1:8).
6:1-7 Seven Chosen to Serve the Hellenist Widows. The growth of the church created problems when a number of Hellenistic (i.e., Greek-speaking) Jews responded to the gospel. The resulting language barrier led to the neglect of some needy widows, and the apostles called upon the Greek-speaking community to choose leaders to meet the need.
6:1 The Hellenists were Greek-speaking Jews from the Diaspora ("dispersed" Jews living outside Palestine). Their primary language was Greek. The Hebrews were native Palestinian Jews who spoke Aramaic as their primary language and had attended the Hebrew-speaking synagogues. Not as fluent in Greek, they seem to have overlooked the Hellenist widows unintentionally. Some scholars claim this verse is just the "tip of the iceberg" indicating serious theological frictions between these two groups in the Jerusalem church, and that they had major differences over observance of the OT law and the proper role of the Jerusalem temple. But the text itself indicates just the opposite, for several places show essential unity in doctrinal understanding among the apostles and those who followed them (see 15:1-35; Gal. 1:18-19; 2:1-10). Any differences in emphasis were not major, but it does appear the Hellenists were less drawn to the temple, as Stephen's speech in Acts 7 suggests. the daily distribution. That is, of provisions for the needy.
6:4 Essential to the work of the apostles was their devotion to prayer and to the ministry of the word. The burgeoning ministry of charity was distracting them from this calling. The Greek-speaking Hellenists from whom the seven were selected were better equipped to serve and communicate with the widows.
6:5 Stephen and Philip will become prominent in the Acts narrative; the NT makes no further mention of the other five.
6:6 The apostles confirmed the congregational election when they prayed and laid their hands on them. Laying on of hands is done in connection with several things in Acts: healing (9:17), the gift of the Spirit (8:18; 9:17; 19:6), and commissioning to a ministry (both here and at 13:3). Interpreters differ over whether these seven men should be considered the first "deacons" in the church. On the one hand, the noun "deacon" (Gk. diakonos) does not occur here. On the other hand, the corresponding verb (Gk. diakoneō, "to serve, help, render assistance") is used in 6:2, and this same verb is used of those who serve as deacons in 1 Tim. 3:10, 13. However, this is a common verb for "service." It could well be these men were called to deal with this issue and any like it.
6:7 the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem. In spite of suffering and persecution (5:41), in spite of sin in the church (5:1-11), and in spite of conflict (6:1), the church continued to grow. It grew in the context of remarkable love among the Christians in Jerusalem (4:32, 35), frequent miracles (5:12), and the courageous proclamation of the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit (5:29-32). The word of God continued to increase in spite of widespread opposition. A great many of the priests became Christians. The lower ranks of the priesthood numbered in the thousands, of whom many were poor and may have first been attracted to Christians by their charity, under the guidance of the newly appointed deacons (6:1-6).
