Commentary
Vs. 1 “Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.”
In the early rapid growth days of the church in Jerusalem there were now some joining them from outside of the conservative vein of Judaism that prevailed in Jerusalem and Israel; amongst them was a group of Greek speaking Jews referred to as Hellenists (for their or their ancestor’s adoption of the Greek language as their mother tongue which began in third century B.C. with Alexander the greats conquest of the then known world, and eventually this led to the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the ancient Hebrew Bible by which their Synagogue services could be conducted in Greek). From amongst these Hellenists then there arose a complaint against the Hebrews, (that is those Jews that firmly held to their mother tongue and culture regardless of where the dwelt), that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food and such that was then being shared by all, and was then sustaining the early church.
Vs. 2-4 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
When news of this came to the apostles, they summoned the multitude of disciples together and told them that they themselves should not leave the Word of God to go and serve tables (vs. 2), rather that the brethren themselves should seek out and appoint seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom whom they may appoint over this business (vs. 3), so that they themselves could continually give themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word (vs. 4). Thus, by wisely doing so they laid forth the foundational duties for all church Pastoral leadership, as well as the governance or duties for what we now refer to as church deacons.
Vs. 5-6 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.
When the apostles said these things, the whole multitude was pleased, therefore they chose for themselves, Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, (remember him for he will give a remarkable defense of the Gospel in chapter seven, and become the churches first martyr), after him then is mentioned six other men beginning with Philip, another dynamic Holy Spirit filled speaker of the Word of God, who is often referred to as “Philip the evangelist” to distinguish him from Philip the chosen apostle of Christ. And so, it was this Philip who after the powerful witness and martyrdom death of his friend and compatriot Stephen, (and thus many brethren being scattered and driven out from Jerusalem), that he would bring the Gospel to Samaria where by the Holy Spirit likewise enabling him, he would have a mighty impact there, doing many signs and miracles, and thus winning many souls for Christ (Acts 8:5-8). And so, it was with Philips sowing the seeds of faith there that the Apostles Peter and John were also sent there to establish the believers there in the faith, and with their faith established (Acts 9:25), Philip at the direction of an angel from the Lord would seek out and preach to an Ethiopian eunuch who served Candice queen of Ethiopia (Acts 8:26-40). Now so effective was his preaching to him that he also believed and was baptized, and thus he carried the Gospel back to his own country! Philipp then continued on his evangelist endeavors as the Holy Spirit was mightily moving him everywhere to preach the Gospel during those persecutions of the early church, right up to city of Caesarea where he eventually made his home base and established a church there. Now it was years later that Phillip, who also had four virgin daughters who prophesied, would receive the apostle Paul when he came to Caesarea on what would be his final journey to Jerusalem (Acts 21:8-14). Just an incredible life and witness for the Lord Jesus Christ was Philip the evangelist. That all said about him and Stephen no one should think anything less of the five other men also named and chosen who were: Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, for these all were set before the apostles and when they had prayed and laid their hands on them they were appointed over the business of distribution. And so, though their works and deeds are not recorded for us, they like so many other believers down through the ages also served the Lord Jesus Christ no less effectively than Stephen or Philip, but more or less in obscurity, but not to those they helped and served, but only to us who are not yet privy to all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done and accomplished through them. For some men’s works are clearly seen and known by all while others we will not know all the good that the Lord has done though them until the Kingdom of God. Now on a side note all of the deacons were men, not that woman didn’t and don’t serve in the church, often alongside of their male brethren, just that in the churches leadership these roles are by the commandment of the Lord to be filled by men (1 Cor. 14:34-27; 1 Tim. 2:11-15; 3:8-13 etc.).
Vs. 7 “Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.”
With the internal affairs of the church taken care of, (and thus the descension amongst them ceased), the Word of God spread, and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, “and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.” This pattern then of getting ones own house in order as a prerequisite to God reaching others through either an individual or a church body is self-evident down through history. For people are always wanting to come to Christ, however they just don’t want to come and visit with or live in a divided and or divisive house.
Scripture Quotations
New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.
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