Acts 6

v.1

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

v.2

So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said ,“It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.”

The fact that the apostles busied themselves with prayer and the ministry of the word shows how energetically they did those things and how consuming it is to preach and pray rightly.

The ministry is a lot of work, even apart from administrative headaches. A young man said to Donald Grey Barnhouse, “I’d give the world to be able to teach the Bible like you.” Looking him straight in the eye, Dr. Barnhouse replied: “Good, because that’s exactly what it will cost you.”

EnduringWord

v.3-4

Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them ⁴and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

v.5

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.

v.6

They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

v.7

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

This is recorded justly as a remarkable instance of the power of the gospel. How great this company was is not mentioned, but the number of the priests in Jerusalem was very great; and their conversion was a striking proof of the power of truth. It is probable that they had been opposed to the gospel with quite as much hostility as any other class of the Jews. And it is now mentioned, as worthy of special record, that the gospel was sufficiently mighty to humble even the proud, and haughty, and selfish, and envious priests to the foot of the cross. One design of the gospel is to evince the power of truth in subduing all classes of people; and hence, in the New Testament we have the record of its having actually subdued every class to the obedience of faith.

AlbertBarnes

v.8

Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.

v.9

Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. These men began to argue with Stephen,

v.10

but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

v.11

Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.”

v.12

So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.

v.13

They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.

v.14

For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”

v.15

All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.