Bullet Point Bible

A Dispute Arises Over Daily Distribution

¹ Now in those days, when the disciples were growing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Greek-speaking Jews against the native Hebraic Jews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

Rapid church growth in Jerusalem led to organizational and logistical challenges (Acts 6:1).
The conflict highlighted cultural and linguistic tensions within the early church between "Hellenists" (Greek-speaking Jews, likely from the Diaspora) and "Hebrews" (Aramaic-speaking Jews native to Judea).
The "daily distribution" likely involved providing food or aid to needy widows, a recognized responsibility in Jewish and early Christian communities (cf. James 1:27, 1 Timothy 5:3-16).
The complaint concerned perceived neglect or unfairness, revealing the practical difficulties of managing resources equitably in a large, diverse community.
This incident demonstrates that the early church, while Spirit-filled, was not immune to internal problems and human failings.
Luke uses the term "disciples" here to refer generally to the believers in Jerusalem.
The issue threatened the unity of the fledgling church, requiring prompt attention from the leadership.

The Apostles Prioritize Prayer and Word Ministry

² So the twelve called the whole group of the disciples together and said, "It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to wait on tables.³ But carefully select from among you, brothers, seven men who are well-attested, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this necessary task.⁴ But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

The Twelve Apostles addressed the problem directly by convening the entire community of believers ("the whole group").
They articulated their primary calling: "prayer and the ministry of the word" (Acts 6:4), emphasizing the importance of spiritual leadership and teaching.
The apostles proposed delegating the administrative task of the daily distribution ("wait on tables" - Greek *diakonein trapezais*) to ensure it was handled properly without distracting from their core ministry.
"Waiting on tables" likely encompassed managing and distributing food and possibly related finances, a vital but practical service.
This delegation established a principle of shared ministry and recognized the need for specialized roles within the church.
They set high qualifications for those to be chosen: good reputation ("well-attested"), spiritual maturity ("full of the Spirit"), and practical judgment ("of wisdom") (Acts 6:3).
The solution involved both apostolic guidance and congregational participation in selecting the individuals.
The apostles saw the distribution as a "necessary task" (*chreia*), acknowledging its importance while distinguishing it from their specific apostolic function.

Seven Men Chosen to Serve

⁵ The proposal pleased the entire group, so they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a Gentile convert to Judaism from Antioch.⁶ They stood these men before the apostles, who prayed and placed their hands on them.

The community readily accepted the apostles' proposal, indicating unity in addressing the problem.
Seven men were selected based on the criteria given by the apostles.
Significantly, all seven men listed have Greek names, suggesting they were Hellenistic Jews. This choice directly addressed the Hellenists' complaint and demonstrated wisdom and sensitivity in resolving the conflict.
Stephen is highlighted first as "a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit," foreshadowing his prominent role in the following narrative. Philip also becomes a key figure later in Acts (Acts 8).
Nicolas is specifically identified as a "Gentile convert to Judaism" (proselyte) from Antioch, showing the diverse makeup of the early church.
The chosen men were presented to the apostles for commissioning.
The apostles prayed and laid their hands on the seven (Acts 6:6), a symbolic act signifying blessing, commissioning for a specific task, and the impartation of authority or spiritual enabling for their service.
While often seen as the first "deacons," the text uses the verb "to serve" (*diakoneō*) and related nouns for the task, not the specific title *diakonos* (deacon) for the men themselves. This event established a foundational model for servant leadership focused on practical needs.

The Word Spreads and Disciples Multiply

⁷ The word of God continued to spread, the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.

Luke connects the resolution of the internal conflict and the effective delegation of ministry to the continued success of the gospel.
The phrase "the word of God continued to spread" emphasizes the primary importance of the message and the effectiveness of the apostles' focused ministry (Acts 6:4).
The church experienced significant numerical growth ("increased greatly") in Jerusalem, the center of Jewish religious life.
A remarkable development was the conversion of "a large group of priests" (Acts 6:7).
Priests were members of the religious establishment centered around the Temple, many of whom had been antagonistic towards Jesus and his followers. Their conversion demonstrates the gospel's power to overcome significant social and religious barriers.
This group's obedience "to the faith" signifies their acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah and submission to his teachings.
Luke consistently presents church growth (numerical, geographical, social) as evidence of God's power and blessing on the community (e.g., Acts 2:47, 4:4, 5:14).

Stephen's Grace, Power, and Wisdom

⁸ Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.⁹ But some men from the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, as well as some from Cilicia and the province of Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen.¹⁰ Yet they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.

Stephen, initially chosen for administrative service (Acts 6:5), also possessed significant spiritual gifts.
He is described as "full of grace and power," echoing descriptions of Jesus (Luke 4:14) and the apostles (Acts 4:33).
His ministry included performing "great wonders and miraculous signs," similar to the apostles, demonstrating God's power working through him.
Opposition arose specifically from Hellenistic Jews belonging to various synagogues – Freedmen (likely descendants of Jews enslaved by Romans and later freed), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia Minor.
This indicates that the conflict Stephen faced originated within the Greek-speaking Jewish community, possibly the very group he was chosen to serve.
These opponents engaged Stephen in theological debate ("argued with Stephen").
Stephen, however, proved superior in the dispute due to the divine "wisdom and the Spirit" empowering his speech (Acts 6:10). This recalls Jesus' promise to his followers facing opposition (Luke 21:14-15).
The inability of his opponents to refute Stephen intellectually and spiritually led them to resort to underhanded methods.

Stephen Falsely Accused Before the Sanhedrin

¹¹ Then they secretly instigated some men to say, "We have heard this man speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God."¹² They incited the people, the elders, and the experts in the law; then they approached Stephen, seized him, and brought him before the council.¹³ They brought forward false witnesses who said, "This man does not stop saying things against this holy place and the law.¹⁴ For we have heard him saying that Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us."¹⁵ All who were sitting in the council looked intently at Stephen and saw his face was like the face of an angel.

Unable to defeat Stephen through debate, his opponents used deceit, bribing false witnesses (Acts 6:11).
The accusations leveled against Stephen – blasphemy against Moses (representing the Law) and God, and speaking against the Temple ("this holy place") and the Law – mirrored the charges brought against Jesus (Matthew 26:59-61; Mark 14:57-58).
They twisted Stephen's message, likely concerning Jesus' fulfillment of the Law and prophecies about the temple, into accusations of seeking to destroy Jewish institutions and traditions ("change the customs Moses handed down").
The opponents successfully stirred up various groups – the general populace, the elders (lay leaders), and the scribes ("experts in the law") – leading to Stephen's forceful arrest.
Stephen was brought before the Sanhedrin ("the council"), the highest Jewish judicial and religious body, the same council that condemned Jesus.
Despite the grave accusations and the hostility of the council, Stephen displayed remarkable composure and divine radiance: his face appeared "like the face of an angel" (Acts 6:15).
This angelic appearance likely signified God's presence with Stephen, his innocence, divine favor, and perhaps a reflection of God's glory, similar to Moses (Exodus 34:29-35).
This verse sets a dramatic stage for Stephen's defense and martyrdom recounted in Acts 7.
The focus shifts from internal church administration to external conflict with the Jewish authorities, escalating the persecution faced by the believers.

The Bullet Point Bible

Acts 6