Context No. 150 of 4322 · Acts
Context · Reflection
Acts 6:1-6: in context
1Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service. 2The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables. 3Therefore, select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.” 5These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch, 6whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
The church in Jerusalem is growing fast, and this passage is its first internal fight. The community had two groups: Hebrew-speaking Jews, and Hellenists, Greek-speaking Jews from the wider empire. The complaint is that the Hellenist widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
The Twelve call the community together and say it is not right for them to give up preaching in order to wait on tables, so they ask the people to pick seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, to handle it. The community chooses, and the apostles pray and lay hands on them.
The detail worth noticing is the names of the seven. Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, who is specifically noted as a convert from Antioch. Every one of them is Greek. The Hebrew-speaking majority responded to a complaint from the Greek-speaking minority by handing the entire operation to men from the aggrieved group, including a foreigner. They did not appoint a committee to look into it. They gave it away. When a group tells me they are being overlooked, does my response leave me holding the decisions?
Sources
- Acts 6:1: the Hellenist widows overlooked in the daily distribution
- Acts 6:5: the seven chosen, all bearing Greek names, including Nicolaus, a convert from Antioch
- Acts 6:8-8:1 and 8:4-40: Stephen and Philip, two of the seven, whose later work exceeds table service