Christianity
Acts 6The Seven Chosen
Summary
Acts 6 tells of a complaint by the Greek-speaking believers that their widows are overlooked in the daily distribution of food. The twelve ask the community to choose seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, to oversee this work so the apostles can devote themselves to prayer and the word. Stephen, Philip and five others are appointed. Stephen performs wonders, and opponents bring false witnesses who accuse him of speaking against the temple and the law.
Key verse
“Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.”
Acts 6:3
Themes
- Care for Widows
- Shared Leadership
- Service
- False Accusation
Text
And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.
Across traditions
Judaism
Exodus 18: Jethro's AdviceJethro urges Moses to appoint capable, trustworthy men to judge everyday matters so he is not worn out. Like Acts 6, it shares the load of leadership so the central task is not neglected.
Judaism
Numbers 11: Seventy EldersGod puts some of the spirit that was on Moses upon seventy elders to help bear the burden of the people, a parallel to helpers chosen because they are full of the Spirit.
Questions about Acts 6
Who were the seven deacons in Acts 6?
Acts 6:5 names Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch. Acts does not call them deacons, but Christian tradition has long seen them as the first deacons.
Who were the Grecians in Acts 6:1?
They were Jewish believers who spoke Greek and likely came from the wider diaspora, as distinct from the Hebrews, who spoke Aramaic or Hebrew and were rooted in Judea.