Act 6: "In Act 6 is revealed: The First Organisation (vv 1-7).
It is important that ecclesias be established in the principles of 'decency and
order,' so that the greatest good is elevated in the minds and hearts of each
member. The First Martyr is revealed in v 8, for Stephen faced the false
accusation of his fellows (vv 8-11). Stephen is arrested and charged (vv 12-15)
as a result of the evil reports arousing the feelings of the people, exciting
them to arrest Stephen. There is to be a reflection of the trials and death of
the Lord Jesus in his servant Stephen" (GEM).
Background: Converts to Christianity would certainly be denied
any form of public support -- to which their fellow-Jews might be
entitled.
WHEN THE NUMBER OF DISCIPLES WAS INCREASING: Cp the
situation of the persecuted Jews in Egypt: Exo 1:7,20.
Complaining: the first symptom of any loss of unanimous
goodwill (Act 4:32).
THEIR WIDOWS: The "enrolled" widows: Act 9:41; 1Ti
5:3,9-11,16.
WERE BEING OVERLOOKED: Poss the language barriers
contributed to the problem.
Act 6:2
// Jethro's advice to Moses -- "Delegate": Exo
18:13-26.
TO WAIT ON TABLES: The seven, and those whom they
supervised (v 3n), were taking upon themselves the "form of servants" (cp Phi
2:7,8).
Act 6:3
FULL OF THE SPIRIT AND WISDOM: No definite article;
should be "full of spirit and wisdom" -- ie, energetic and wise.
WE WILL TURN THE RESPONSIBILITY OVER TO THEM: Even the
seven were in supervisory roles.
Act 6:5
The first ecclesially-sponsored charitable
organization.
Men of Hellenistic names. (Not decisive, however, since some
Hebrews had Greek names: Nicodemus, Didymus.)
Act 6:6
WHO PRAYED AND LAID HANDS ON THEM: See Lesson, Laying on of hands.
They receive the gift of "administration" (1Co 12:28).
Act 6:7
THE NUMBER OF DISCIPLES IN JERUSALEM INCREASED RAPIDLY:
Implying there were believers outside of Jerusalem as well.
A LARGE NUMBER OF PRIESTS: First major inroad into
ranks of Jewish authority: "For the lips of a priest OUGHT TO preserve
knowledge, and from his mouth men SHOULD seek instruction" (Mal 2:7).
Act 6:9
FREEDMEN: AV has the rather misleading
"Libertines".
CILICIA: Perhaps including Saul of Tarsus (a city of
Cilicia).
Act 6:10
THE SPIRIT BY WHOM HE SPOKE: The power of speech for
defense was promised to the apostles (Mat 10:19) and the disciples in general
(Act 6:10; Luk 12:11,12).
Act 6:11
PERSUADED: "Hupoballo" = to put under -- ie to
substitute. Once in NT. RSV has "secretly instigated"; AV has "suborned":
suggesting false accusations -- as against Christ -- insinuation,
innuendo.
AGAINST MOSES AND AGAINST GOD: In their zeal for the
Law, they put Moses ahead of God.
Act 6:13
FALSE WITNESSES: Cp Mat 26:59-61; Mar
14:55-59.
Vv 13,14: They charge Stephen with speaking against the Temple
and the Law. In answer to these charges, Stephen (in Acts 7) will demonstrate:
(1) true worship of the One God is independent of place or ancestry, and (2) the
true blasphemers are his accusers, who rejected God and crucified His
Son.
Act 6:14
JESUS WILL DESTROY THIS PLACE: Cp the charges against
Jeremiah (Jer 26:4-11).
Act 6:15
FACE OF AN ANGEL: Bright as the face of Moses had been
(Exo 34:30). Stephen was a doomed man before he opened his mouth to defend
himself, but the Sanhedrin was being given a divine warning -- in the brightness
of his countenance. (This explains also Stephen's early ref to the "God of
GLORY": Act 7:2.)