18.The multiplication of the Presbyterian Church
The multiplication of the Presbyterian Church from Matthew 28 to Acts 6 After His resurrection, the Son of God urged His Ministers of the Word and Sacraments to keep on going into all the world; to disciple all nations; to baptize them into the Name of the Triune God [the Ultimate Presbytery]; and to teach them to observe all things whatsoever He had ever commanded (from creation onward, including Presbyterial Church Government). Mat 28:16-20; Mark 16:15f; Luk 24:47f.
Inevitably, this would lead to the creation of many Congregations; to the formation of whole Presbyteries of Congregations; and to the convening from time to time of General Assemblies constituted from those Presbyteries (such as those of Judaea, Samaria, Galilee,
Phoenicia, and Antioch, etc.). Acts 1:5-8; Acts 8:25f; Acts 9:31; Acts 11:19f; Acts 11:27f; Acts 13:1f; Acts 14:23f; Acts 15:1-41; Acts 16:1-5. This presbyterial principle is seen very clearly even in the earliest days after Pentecost Sunday. About three thousand persons, including infant children, were then baptized and the Lord kept on adding to the Church daily such as should be saved. Acts 2:38-47.
Soon, even in Jerusalem alone the number just of the adult male believers had climbed to about five thousand (Acts 4:4) quite excluding also the number of their co-believing women and children. This, then, clearly required several Congregations within at least one Presbytery in that city alone.
Still the Jerusalem Christians kept on increasing and rapidly came to constitute "a multitude." Acts 4:32. Peter and the other Apostles, trained and ordained by Christ Himself, persevered and continued labouring. Acts 5:29f. "And daily... in every house they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. Acts 5:42.
Thereafter, "in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, the...twelve [Apostles] called the multitude of the disciples unto them and said, ’It is not reasonable that we should leave [aside the preaching of] the Word of God, and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, look out among yourselves for seven men of honest report...whom we may appoint over this business! But we will give ourselves continully 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 five others, all of whom were mentioned by name "whom they set before the Apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests became obedient to the faith." Acts 6:1-7.
Owen compares what happened here, with what occurred later at the Synod of Jerusalem in Acts 15. "The occasion there mentioned," he states (in XVI:230f), "was guided by the Holy Ghost that it might be an example and rule for the Churches of Christ in cases of a like concernment unto them in all ages, and so have the force and warranty of an institution: as it was in the case that gave occasion unto Deacons, Acts 6." In that case, "a matter of fact wherein was some disorder, rectified by a practice answering the necessity of the Church, became an institution for order in all future ages.