Acts 6 – Church Growth, Organizing The Ministry To The Poor, And Stephen

Explosive Growth Of The Church

In Acts 1 there were 120 followers of Jesus in the early church. Then in Acts 2, on the day of Pentecost, there were a great number of devout Jews from many other countries visiting Jerusalem for the Feast of Weeks.

After the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter preached and 3000 men and an unknown number of women repented and turned to Jesus. Many of these were devout Jews from other countries, and especially from Mediterranean or Greek regions.

And in Acts 2:47 we saw that the Lord was adding daily to the number of people being saved.

Then in Acts 3 and 4 Peter and John healed a lame man, and this drew a large crowd at the temple. Peter preached again and 5000 men and an unknown number of women repented and turned to Jesus.

Then in Acts 5, after Annanias and Sapphira died, we saw this:

“And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women” – Acts 5:14

 

A Conflict And Problem Arises From The Growth

“Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.” – Acts 6:1

A large number of the devout Jews from other countries that repented and followed Jesus ended up staying in Jerusalem and in the new church. Many of them were poor and in need of assistance.

Since they were from Mediterranean or Greek regions, they were known as Hellenists or Hellenistic Jews. The Jews from Jerusalem or Israel that repented and followed Jesus were known as Hebrews.

Due to the rapid growth of the church, apparently the food and other items purchased from the donations of believers was not reaching everyone. In particular the Hellenistic widows. Remember some believers in the church even sold properties and houses to help the needy.

There arose a problem and a conflict. The Hellenistic Jews started to complain about the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the distribution to the needy.

 

Acts 6 – Church Growth, Organizing The Ministry To The Poor, And Stephen

The Jewish Tradition Of Helping The Poor

A Jewish historian wrote this – “In the Jewish synagogues there was a routine custom. There were officials who were known as receivers of alms. They were collectors, and they went around the market and around the houses every Friday morning and made a collection of money and goods to redistribute to the poor when the synagogue met. Later in that day on Friday when the people gathered, what had been collected was distributed to them. Those temporarily in need received enough to carry them through, and those permanently in need received enough for 14 meals.”

That would be 2 meals a day for a week. This was traditional among the Jewish people.

Apparently the early church in Acts maintained this great tradition. As a way to show the love of God to others.

 

Focused On The Mission Jesus Gave The Church

 

“And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” – Acts 6:2-4

When the conflict and problem arose in the church, the apostles recognized that it could detract or detour them from the main mission that Jesus commanded them to carry out. To take the Gospel to a lost world (Matthew 4:19, Mark 16:15, Acts 1:8), and to make disciples and teach them everything Jesus commanded. (Matthew 28:19-20).

So they gathered together all of the disciples in the church. The Greek word used for disciples is “mathētēs”. It means learners and followers.

They were continually learning more and more about Jesus, and how to please Him and follow Him. And the apostles, having been with Jesus since the beginning, were the ones called, commanded, and annointed by Jesus to “teach them everything Jesus commanded”.

The apostles said “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” The Greek word for “ministry of the word” in this verse is “diakonia”.

It means “to serve the word”. The apostles correctly saw themselves as servant leaders.

Serving others by preaching the Gospel, to help lost people turn to Jesus. And serving other believers by teaching God’s word and Jesus’ teachings, to help them grow and become faithful disciples and followers of Jesus

 

Acts 6 – Church Growth, Organizing The Ministry To The Poor, And Stephen

The Apostles Were Called To Preach The Gospel And Teach

“It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables… But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” – Acts 6:2,4

The apostles made it clear that they were commanded by Jesus to preach the Gospel. And by the way, to as many people as possible. All over the world. And they were commanded to make disciples and teach them everything Jesus commanded.

In other words, to preach the Gospel to as many people as possible. Where? Everywhere. And by the way, this is still the main calling and mission for Jesus’ church and followers today. Sadly so many have abandoned the mission Jesus commanded His church to do, and have come up with their own mission or version.

 

The Need For Continual Prayer

Notice the apostles also added that they needed to devote themselves “to prayer and the ministry of the word”.

They well understood that they were in spiritual warfare for souls, and that prayer was essential to having spiritual victories and fruit. Our enemy Satan is always coming up against efforts to spread the Gospel and reach lost people.

God loves all, and wants all to be saved, and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). But Satan hates all, and wants all to be lost, separated from God, and eventually suffer eternal destruction.

So Satan will always oppose people and churches that set their hearts on faithfully following and obeying Jesus. And His commands concerning the kingdom mission He gave to His followers.

The apostles and the church had already experienced a lot of spiritual warfare and persecution in its short existence. And they recognized their total need and dependence on God.

And thus they recognized the vital need for prayer. And their need for God to empower them for the preaching of the Gospel, and the teaching of the word.

The apostles recognized Jesus’ teaching in John 15.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” – John 15:8-11

 

Acts 6 – Church Growth, Organizing The Ministry To The Poor, And Stephen

Organizing And Delegating

“Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty… And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.” – Acts 6:3, 5-6

The apostles saw the need to organize the work of assisting the poor and needy, since the church had grown so quickly. And they recognized that they needed to delegate and assign the assistance ministry to others. So they could stay focused on their God given mission, and on prayer.

They told the church to choose 7 men that had a good reputation. And that were filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom.

The church then chose Stephen, who we will learn more about later in Acts 6 and also in Acts 7. And they also chose Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus.

These men not only oversaw the distribution of food and other necessities for the needy. They also were in charge of collecting and distributing the money and resources that was needed to buy the food and other necessities.

They needed to be reputable men of good character. And spiritually minded men, led and controlled by the Holy Spirit.

The Church Chose 7 Hellenistic or Greek Believers

The 7 men that the church chose were all Hellenistic or Greek believers. Meaning that none of them were originally from Jerusalem or Israel.

When you think about it, this makes a lot of sense. The ones that were being neglected most because of the church growth were the Hellenistic or Greek widows.

So the Hellenistic believers had the most at stake in this issue and ministry. In other words, this ministry meant the most to these 7 Hellenistic believers. They would be the ones most passionate and effective in this ministry.

 

Acts 6 – Church Growth, Organizing The Ministry To The Poor, And Stephen

The Gospel Continued To Spread Rapidly

“And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.” – Acts 6:7

As we have seen previously in Acts 2, 3, 4, and 5, the Gospel spread rapidly in Jerusalem. And the number of Jewish people that repented and followed Jesus grew rapidly.

Even many of the Jewish priests repented and turned to follow Jesus. The priests were descendants of Aaron, and were primarily responsible for performing sacrifices, maintaining the temple, and teaching the Law to the people.

This great number of people turning to Jesus could not have happened if the believers in the church weren’t doing their part in God’s mission of reaching the lost. It wasn’t just the apostles that were sharing the Gospel.

We will see soon in Acts 8 and on that it was all of the believers and disciples in the church that were sharing the Gospel. No one can be reached and saved if no one is sharing the Gospel.

Paul said it best in Romans 10.

“For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” – Romans 10:13-14

All Believers Are Commanded By Jesus To Share The Gospel

All of the believers and disciples in the early church were taught and clearly understood that Jesus’ commands in Matthew 4:19, Mark 16:15, and Acts 1:8 applied to all believers, not just the apostles, or pastors, or leaders.

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” – Matthew 4:19

“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” – Mark 16:15

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” – Acts 1:8

Jesus’ commands for all to share the Gospel, and to make disciples still apply today. To all believers and followers of Jesus.

 

Acts 6 – Church Growth, Organizing The Ministry To The Poor, And Stephen

Stephen – The First Martyr In The Early Church

“And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen.” – Acts 6:8-9

We were introduced to Stephen in Acts 6:3 and 5. He was one of the 7 Hellenists chosen by the people of the church to lead the assistance ministry for the needy.

We know that Stephen was a man of good reputation and character. And he was a man full of the Holy Spirit. Meaning that he was fully yielded and surrendered to Jesus. And as a result the Holy Spirit continually controlled and led him.

Some people are controlled and led by the flesh. Some are full of and controlled by anger. Some by lust. Stephen was so fully surrendered to Jesus that he was controlled and led by the Holy Spirit.

We also learn in Acts 6:8 that as a result of being full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit, Stephen was full of grace and power. And that he was, by the power of the Holy Spirit, performing great signs and wonders among the people.

He was one of only 2 men in the early church that did great signs and wonders, besides the apostles. Jesus called and annointed the apostles to perform signs and wonders, in order to point people to Jesus. The signs and wonders were always attached to the preaching of the Gospel.

Stephen, and one of the other men of the 7 Hellenists chosen to lead the assistance ministry for the needy, Phillip, were the only others besides the apostles that ever performed signs and wonders. We will learn more about Phillip in Acts 8.

And Stephen, along with the apostles and all the others in the early church, were regularly, daily, going out to share the Gospel with others. Being that Stephen was a Greek speaking Hellenistic Jew that turned to follow Jesus, and he was chosen to minister to poor Hellenistic Jews, he was also trying to reach unbelieving Hellenistic Jews with the Gospel.

Stephen Is Persecuted, Falsely Accused, And Arrested

“Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen.” – Acts 6:9

As Stephen was ministering to Hellenistic believers, he was also trying to reach unbelieving Hellenistic Jews. At the time in Jerusalem there were many colonies of foreign Jews, many of which were Greek speaking.

Many had their own synagogue in their own language. It is written at the time that there were up to 500 synagogues in Jerusalem, many of them for non Hebrew or Israeli Jews.

As Stephen was trying to share the Gospel with these non Hebrew Jews, some of them became obstinate and began to argue with him.

Some were from the synagogue of the Freedmen. In 63 BC the Roman general Pompei captured many Jews in Jerusalem and Israel, and took them back to Rome as slaves. Some eventually gained their freedom, returned to Jerusalem, and started a synagogue for the freed men.

Another group mentioned that argued with Stephen was Jews from Cyrene (Cyrenians), a north African city in Lybia. And also Alexandrians, which were Jews from the Egyptian city of Alexandria.

Also a group of Jews from Cilicia, a region in Asia Minor near Syria. The main city in Cilicia was Tarsus, which was where Saul, later named Paul, was from. We will soon meet him in Acts 7.

All of these foreign groups of Jews had synagogues in Jerusalem, for the many foreign Jews that moved there. And Stephen was trying to reach them for Jesus.

And these groups of foreign were the ones that became obstinate and tried to argue with Stephen.

 

Acts 6 – Church Growth, Organizing The Ministry To The Poor, And Stephen

The Great Wisdom Of The Holy Spirit

“But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council” – Acts 6:10-12

Luke tells us that the obstinate foreign Jews tried to argue with Stephen, but they could not hold up against the truth and wisdom that the Holy Spirit gave to Stephen as he tried to witness for Jesus.

Since they did not do well in their argument and debate against Stephen, they became even more obstinate and angry. So they instigated others against Stephen, and accused him of blasphemy against God.

False Witnesses Against Stephen

“and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, 13 and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” – Acts 6:12-14

Unable to effectively win their argument and debate against Stephen and the Holy Spirit’s superior wisdom, they falsely accused him and had him arrested.

So Stephen, like Peter and John and the apostles in Acts 4 and 5, was taken to be questioned by the Jewish leaders and the Sanhedrin. The men who had Stephen arrested set up false witnesses to falsely accuse him.

By witnessing for Jesus, and testifying that Jesus is the promised Messiah and salvation can only come through Him and not the Jewish law, Stephen angered these groups of foreign Jews. And they accused him of blasphemy. And they arranged false witnesses to back up their false allegations of blasphemy.

 

Acts 6 – Church Growth, Organizing The Ministry To The Poor, And Stephen

Jesus Was Persecuted And Accused Of Blasphemy

This is exactly what the Jews did to Jesus.

“And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” – Mark 2:5-7

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” – John 10:27-33

Stephen’s Face Was Like An Angel

“And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.” – Acts 6:15

The entire group of Hellenistic Jews that were angry at Stephen and falsely accused him, along with the Sanhedrin, looked at Stephen. And they saw someone whose face looked like an angel.

Angels reflected the glory of God by shining and appearing as bright lights. When Jesus was transformed His glory shined brightly.

Although Acts 6:15 doesn’t say that Stephen’s face was shining brightly, he somehow appeared to look like an angel.

The only other time in the Bible when a living man’s face appeared to shine like an angel is Moses. When Moses spent 40 days and nights with God, his face was radiant and shining like an angel. From being in the presence of the Lord and His glory.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” 28 Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments. 29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.” – Exodus 34:27-29