06 Acts Chapter 6
Acts 6:1-6 The First Deacons
Acts 6:1-6 MKJV And in those days, the disciples having multiplied, a murmuring of the Hellenists against the Hebrews occurred, because their widows were overlooked in the daily serving. (2) And the Twelve called near the multitude of the disciples and said, It is not pleasing to us, leaving the Word of God, to serve tables. (3) Therefore, brothers, look out among you seven men being witnessed to, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this duty. (4) But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word. (5) And the saying pleased all the multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicholas, a proselyte of Antioch. (6) They set these before the apostles. And having prayed, they laid hands on them. This list is similar to the list of the twelve apostles in that the hero is put first and the villain last. Stephen does many miracles and is martyred. Nicholas however, according to church historians, fell into immorality with the Greek widows he was sent to help, and eventually founded the immoral sect of the Nicolaitans (followers of Nicholas) which is roundly condemned in Revelation. The dispute came about because of a racial and cultural divide between Greek speaking Jews from the Dispersion and the Hebrew speaking Jews of Jerusalem. The Hellenist (Greek-speaking) widows were being neglected in the daily food serving. There must have been quite a number because seven supervisors (“whom we may appoint over this duty”) were needed to ensure the work was done properly! This confirms the opening statement “And in those days, the disciples having multiplied…”.The number seven may indicate a different supervisor for each day of the week as it was a “daily serving”. The apostolic criteria for such practical leadership was interesting, the deacons were to be, “full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom”. These are foundational qualities for anyone in Christian ministry. Wise judgment in practical matters, and the leading of the Holy Spirit are basic. If a person cannot make correct judgment calls or hear the voice of God, they should not be in His work.
Wisdom brings balance to the filling with the Holy Spirit and tempers the excessive “religiosity” that sometimes accompanies powerful spiritual experiences. On the other hand being full of the Holy Spirit brings depth and power to the ministry and a courage and zeal that overcomes the timidity and over-cautiousness that sometimes accompanies wisdom. The apostles displayed a proper understanding of ministry prorities: “And the Twelve called near the multitude of the disciples and said, It is not pleasing to us, leaving the Word of God, to serve tables….But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.” The senior pastor should be devoted to the word of God and prayer. There are many distractions - bulletins to be typed up, people to be given lifts, worship songs to be practiced etc. These can be delegated to a volunteer church secretary, volunteer transport coordinator and a volunteer worship leader. Since I sing like a bullfrog I am very grateful for worship leaders!
Senior pastors should attend to the needs of the people by teaching, praying and counselling (if they have a gift for counselling). A survey I read some time ago found that where there is revival pastors pray for 90 minutes a day or more, and where there is spiritual apathy the pastors pray 20 minutes a day or less! Prayer is the power of the church and pastors must be students of it and its most fervent practitioners.
Pastors should also be life-long students of the word of God. I cannot bear it when pastors use sermon outlines from books! They must find their own fire! They must hear from God for their people! With the abundance of bible study aids available today there is no excuse, even for someone who has not been to bible college. I find the free E-Sword bible software invaluable and often use it when preparing Eternity-DBS (e.g. the information on Nicolas) you can get it from http://www.e-sword.net/ The deacons were chosen by consulting the congregation to avoid charges of nepotism and in line with Jewish customs for selecting such officers:
[Gill writes in his commentray: Or "choose out among you", as the Syriac version adds, and as the Arabic and Ethiopic versions render it; which shows that this sort of officers, deacons, must be members of the church, and of the same church to which they are ordained deacons; and that they must be chosen to that office by the whole community, or by the common suffrages and votes of the people. So the (b) Jews
"did not appoint
Finally we return to Nicolas, a man full of the Holy Spirit, a good leader who seems to have gone astray. Firstly he was a proselyte, perhaps a new convert and he was sent to minister to widows. This corrupted him, as many of the widows in those days of plagues and pestilences were quite young and sexually active which is why Paul commanded them to marry (1 Timothy 5:3-16) lest they fall into the snare of Satan ( 1 Timothy 5:6; 1 Timothy 5:11; 1 Timothy 5:15). Nicolas ended up teaching that sex was the path to salvation. This example teaches us that good people can go badly wrong. Interestingly Nicholas’s name and Balaam’s name have the similar meanings - conqueror of the people/destruction of the people. Both were very spiritual men who went bad. We need to be on our guard against temptation and to always remember that no spiritual experience makes us immune from the ability to sin.
Acts 6:6-8 Stephen’s Anointing / The Laying On Of Hands
Acts 6:6-8 MKJV They set these before the apostles. And having prayed, they laid hands on them. (7) And the Word of God was increasing. And the number of the disciples in Jerusalem was multiplying exceedingly; even a great crowd of the priests obeyed the faith. (8) And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Stephen was not one of the original Twelve and prior to his ordination in verse 6 there is no record of his doing any miracles despite the fact that Stephen was full of faith and the Holy Spirit. Up until Stephen all the recorded miracles had happened through the apostles hands. Now they were happening through a deacon. Something about the laying on of hands conferred power upon Stephen and his ministry. The laying on of hands is a basic Christian practice that is associated with receiving the Holy Spirit, healing, spiritual empowerment and the working of miracles. Because it is easily “paganized” it has been treated with great caution by the traditional church as well as by the more rationalistic liberal theologians. However it is not a superstitious practice but a thoroughly biblical way of passing on the anointing. I found 18 major references to the “laying on of hands” in the NT and I have classified them under headings at the end of this devotional.
Christianity is an intensely personal faith that is transmitted from person to person via disciple-making and through the laying on of hands. God has Personhood and in a way “got personal” in Christ Jesus who laid His hands on the apostles, the sick and even on small children.
Stephen is a great example of the effective laying on of hands. He was already faithful, Spirit-filled and wise. As he moved into ministry via the apostolic laying on of hands he was ready for the anointing given via the hands of the apostles and as a result the anointing came upon Stephen strongly and he did great works of power.
Stephen is a “third generation” miracle-worker, first Jesus, then the apostles, then Stephen. Stephen’s anointing indicates that a person of Greek-speaking background, who was a deacon and not an apostle, can still do mighty works. It is thus a strong indication that miracles can still be done today. The attributes of Stephen’s personality that led to the working of signs and wonders were that he was “full of faith and power”. There are varying levels of faith discussed in the New Testament –“unbelief” “little faith”, “great faith” , “full of faith” “faith that moves mountains” and Paul even talks about a “measure of faith” that each believer has. (Romans 12:3-6)
Romans 12:3-6 MKJV For I say, through the grace given to me, to every one who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think. But set your mind to be right-minded, even as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith. …. (6) Then having gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, if prophecy, according to the proportion of faith;
Stephen was full of faith and power - that is he had a high measure of faith and was able to translate that into action. Now this faith in action resulted in miracles and great signs and wonders. Another person’s faith may result in prophecy - and so on and s forth through the various gifts. As a result of Stephen’s witness many priests were becoming disciples and the old order of Judaism was beginning to crumble. At this stage Christianity was not a separate faith but a reform movement within Judaism - and it was winning - but the “old guard” had quite a few tricks left (as we shall see tomorrow).
There was simply no arguing with anointing. The Christians had “it” and could pass “it” on via the laying on of hands. In contrast the Jewish leaders did not have a true anointing, did no works of power and were of no help to the people but rather just laid burdens on their backs (see Matthew 23:1-39). The anointing breaks the yoke.
Isaiah 10:27 MKJV And it shall be, in that day his burden shall be taken away from off your shoulder, and his yoke from off your neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. The yoke of the Law was being broken by the anointing of the Holy Spirit passed on through the laying on of hands and the ministry of anointed individuals. On another level bondages of infirmity, sickness and demon possession were being shattered by Stephen and by the apostles. With the anointing the Church is a transformational force in the world, without the anointing it is just so much dead wood. The Holy Spirit is God’s to dispense and is the secret of power in ministry. We must seek His anointing in our lives.
NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCES TO THE LAYING ON OF HANDS A Foundation Of The Faith
Hebrews 6:1-3 MKJV Therefore, having left the discourse of the beginning of Christ, let us go on to full growth, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, (2) of the baptisms, of doctrine, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (3) And this we will do, if God permits.
Receiving The Holy Spirit Acts 8:17 MKJV Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Acts 9:17 MKJV And Ananias went and entered into the house. And putting his hands on him, he said, Brother Saul, the Lord, Jesus, who appeared to you in the way in which you came, has sent me to you that you might see and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 19:6 MKJV And as Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
Healing
Luke 4:40 MKJV And the sun sinking, all, as many as had sick ones with different kinds of diseases brought them to Him. And laying hands on each of them, He healed them.
Luke 13:11-13 MKJV And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and she was bowed together and was not able to be completely erect. (12) And when Jesus saw her, He called and said to her, Woman, you are delivered from your infirmity. (13) And He laid His hands on her. And instantly she was made erect, and she glorified God.
Mark 6:5 MKJV And He could do no work of power there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick ones, He healed them.
Mark 8:23-25 MKJV And He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spat on his eyes and had put His hands on him, He asked Him if he saw anything. (24) And he looked up and said, I see men as trees, walking. (25) And after that He put His hands again on his eyes and made him look up. And he was restored and saw all clearly.
Mark 16:17-18 MKJV And miraculous signs will follow to those believing these things: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak new tongues; (18) they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will be well.
Acts 28:8-9 MKJV And it happened the father of Publius was lying down, suffering fevers and dysentery; to whom Paul entered in, and praying and laying on his hands, he healed him. (9) Then this taking place, the rest who were having infirmities in the island also came, and were healed.
Miracles
Acts 5:12 MKJV And many miracles and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.
Acts 14:3 MKJV Therefore they stayed a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who bore witness to the word of His grace, giving miracles and wonders to be done by their hands.
Acts 19:11-12 MKJV And God did works of power through the hands of Paul, (12) so that even handkerchiefs or aprons from his skin being brought onto the sick, the diseases were released, and the evil spirits went out of them.
Spiritual Empowerment
Acts 6:6 MKJV They set these before the apostles. And having prayed, they laid hands on them. (later Stephen does great works)
Acts 13:1-3 MKJV And in Antioch some among the existing church were prophets and teachers. (such as Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. (2) As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, So, then, separate Barnabas and Saul to Me for the work to which I have called them. (3) Then having fasted and prayed and laid hands on them, they let them go.
1 Timothy 4:14 MKJV Do not neglect the gift in you, which was given you by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the body of elders.
1 Timothy 5:22 MKJV Do not lay hands quickly on anyone, neither be partaker of the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
2 Timothy 1:6 MKJV Therefore I remind you to inflame anew the gift of God, which is in you by the putting on of my hands.
Acts 6:9-15 The Accusers of Stephen
Acts 6:9-15 MKJV Then there arose certain of the synagogue which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and from Asia, disputing with Stephen. (10) And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. (11) And they induced men to be saying, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God. (12) And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes. And coming on, they seized him and brought him to the Sanhedrin. (13) And they set up false witnesses, who said, This man does not cease speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the Law. (14) For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered to us. (15) And looking intently at him. all those sitting in the Sanhedrin saw his face as if it were the face of an angel.
C. Peter Wagner has an interesting take on today’s passage that the synagogue concerned was a synagogue of Jews from the Dispersion who were very anxious to prove their Jewish legitimacy and were thus hyper-zealous. There are a number of explanations about the synagogue of the Libertines/Freedmen (Gk: Libertinos) but the best is probably the following (from the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia):
They were “the freedmen of the Romans” (Chrysostom), the descendants of Jewish freedmen at Rome who had been expelled by Tiberius. In 63 BC Pompey had taken prisoners of war to Rome. These, being liberated by those who had acquired them as slaves, formed a colony on the banks of the Tiber (Philo, Legat. ad Caium). Tacitus relates that the senate decreed (19 AD) that a number of Jewish Libertines should be transported to Sardinia, and that the rest should leave Italy, unless they renounced, before a certain day, their profane customs (Ann. ii, 85; see also Josephus, Ant., XVIII, iii, 5). Many would naturally seek refuge in Jerusalem and build there a synagogue.
Remember Stephen was sent to meet the needs of the Greek-speaking Jews and he preached the gospel to them with signs and wonders converting many. Thus the synagogue of the Libertines, which ministered to Greek-speaking Jews, would have seen many of its members heading across the way to Stephen the evangelist who met their needs and healed their sicknesses. Perhaps there was a church split, perhaps the offerings fell, perhaps the pews were empty, who knows, but Stephen was stealing their sheep!
No-one is quicker to call someone a heretic than a pastor who has lost some of his flock to the new preacher in town! Such injured clergy say terrible things, which flow from an embittered heart and a poisoned imagination. The fires of jealousy within the mind make them see dastardly things in the new church down the road - especially if the doctrine or practices are a little bit different. The embittered pastor will maintain that the healings are from the Devil, and the demons are cast out by Beelzebub!
Matthew 10:24-25 ASV A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord. (25) It is enough for the disciple that he be as his teacher, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more them of his household!
Matthew 12:22-24 ASV Then was brought unto him one possessed with a demon, blind and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the dumb man spake and saw. (23) And all the multitudes were amazed, and said, Can this be the son of David? (24) But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This man doth not cast out demons, but by Beelzebub the prince of the demons.
“And they set up false witnesses, who said, This man does not cease speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the Law.” Pastor Adam says one thing, Pastor Bob says another and Pastor Charles yet another and soon the rumors fly, the facts are never checked or verified, and the body of Christ is being bruised and afflicted.
“For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” This gives us a clue to their concern - maintaining the Temple and the Mosaic traditions. Was God directly available as the Christians maintained - or was He located in the golden Ark of the Covenant, in the secret Holy of Holies, and only accessible via the priests and the traditions?
If spiritual power was available outside the golden box called the Ark of the Covenant, and outside the big religious building called the Temple and outside the priesthood, and outside the traditions - then this was calamitous for their system.
Until this day lay preaching is opposed. One conservative Irish denomination opposed Mel Gibson’s’ film The Passion Of The Christ solely on the grounds that the gospel should only be proclaimed in churches and by ordained clergy! The fact is that most gospel proclamation takes place outside the walls of the Church - via TV, radio, tracts, books, and the Internet. As the Old Testament system crumbled, the bits that were most affected, such as this synagogue tend to react defensively - and in this case violently. In some ways the Church is also going through major changes from the model that worked well enough up until the late 70s and some of us “older Christians” (such as yours truly) can feel threatened. When this happens we need to be very careful of any judgments that we make.