Explore the Bible Lesson Preview April 24, 2016 Selfless Background: Acts 6:1-8:3 Lesson: Acts 6:1-10 Motivation: Sharing Jesus was the priority of the early church. It took precedence over every other demand. In this study we ll see not only the priority of evangelism but its p rice and the change it makes in people. Examination: I. A Need Discovered In those days, as the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. 2 Then the Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, It would not be right for us to give up preaching about God to handle financial matters. (6:1-2) A. Context: Acts 4:32ff introduced the generosity of the Jerusalem church For there was not a needy person among them (4:36). The need for such generosity probably derived from economic persecution toward those converting to Christianity. Families may have disowned converts and trade guilds may have disbarred them, eliminating the two major social safety nets. Widows particularly were vulnerable. B. Complaint: HCSB; p. 1871: 6:1 The distinction between Hellenistic and Hebraic Jews 1 / 9
probably refers to their respective languages. Many Jews whose primary language was Greek were converted to Christianity (e.g., Paul; Ac 9). Needy Hellenistic believers felt they had been neglected in the early church s charity distribution. This imbalance may have arisen due simply to the logistical challenge caused by the rapid addition of Hellenistic Jewish Christians. The existing church structure proved unable to meet the growing demands. It was time for change. C. Conviction It would not be right (2) In reaction to the church s first internal schism, the Twelve established clear priorities. While not discounting the seriousness of the problem, the Apostles maintained that their time and energy would best be applied to preaching. This sets precedence for God s church to the present: while we have a responsibility to meet social needs, our priority must always be placed on eternal needs. II. A Solution Reached Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. 4 B ut we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the preaching ministry. 5 The proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte from Antioch. 6 They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 So the preaching about God flourished, the number of the disciples in Jerusalem multiplied greatly, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith. (3-7) HCSB, p. 1871, 6:2-4 The distinction between those responsible for preaching and those responsible for distribution of food marks the beginning of functional distinction of roles and responsibilities in the early church. The apostles ( the Twelve ) believed prayer and preaching were their primary duties. It is not that other roles were unimportant. In fact, the high requirements ( good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom ) that had to be met by the 2 / 9
seven men who would take over the duty of food distribution signals the importance of all roles in Christian service. Each of the seven men filled a position that later came to be reserved for deacons. Informally, therefore, these men were the first Christian deacons. They were responsible for the practical needs of the congregation. A. Deacon is a description rather than a title. handle financial matters is also translated serve tables (2). The word deacon is a transliteration of diakonos which means slave or servant. B. Deacon is a beginning rather than and ending. select from among you (3) Deacons are to be reputable, spirit-filled, full of wisdom, and servant hearted. C. Deacon is a responsibility rather than a privilege. 1. A responsibility to be a role model of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. (3) 2. A responsibility to be a bridge-builder The proposal pleased the whole company. (5) They represent people to pastor and pastor to people. 3. A responsibility to be a spiritual leader laid their hands on them (6). HCSB, p.1871, 6:5-6 Stephen and six others (their Greek names probably identify them as Hellenistic believers) were selected as the first deacons. They were set apart for service by prayer and the laying on of hands by the apostles. The laying on of hands occurs in several contexts in Acts (8:17; 13:3; 19:6). Here, as in 13:3, it indicated the church s recognition that God had called these people to a particular ministry. 3 / 9
D. Deacons are a part of God s plan for His Church to flourish. So the preaching about God flourished, the number of the disciples in Jerusalem multiplied greatly, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith. (7) HCSB: p. 1871; 6:7 Bold preaching about God drove growth in the number of the disciples in the early church. Even a large group of priests became followers of Christ. Luke did not specify who the priests were, but they were probably those who performed duties in connection with worship at the temple. This put them in a good position to hear the apostles preach on a regular basis. III. A Servant Tested Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some from what is called the Freedmen s Synagogue, composed of both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they were unable to stand up against his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking. (6:8-10) A. Ministry of Stephen Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. (6:8) We now have a detailed account of the first martyr from the church. The apostles had been arrested, threatened and beaten; but the honor of joining his Savior in giving his life first belonged to a deacon. (cf. Trail of Blood or Fox s Book of Martyrs ) B. Motive Against Stephen disputed with Stephen (6:9) Believer s Study Bible, p. 1550: 6:9 Freedmen were freed slaves or their descendants. Apparently there were divisions in the Jewish community resulting in at least three synagogues; one for the Cyrenians and Alexandrians, one for those who had come from Cilicia and Asia, and one simply for the freedmen from any region. Some may have endured slavery in Italy, in Sardinia, or elsewhere. 4 / 9
Once freed, they sought refuge in Jerusalem and had at least one synagogue there. A Rabbinic tradition stated that there were at least 480 synagogues in Jerusalem. HCSB, p. 1871, 6:11 Stephen s supposedly blasphemous words on this occasion were probably similar to his speech in Ac 7, which emphasized Israel s disobedience and the fulfillments of the OT in the ministry of Jesus, including His replacing the temple and the law. This would have aroused resentment among those who revered Moses and rejected Jesus as Messiah. C. Mandate by Stephen But they were unable to stand up against his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking. (6:10) Stephen used both logic and wisdom and was used by God s Spirit. IV. Movement to Silence Stephen (6:11-15) Since his enemies could not overcome his message (I Cor. 1:18-25, 30; Col. 2:2-3), they moved to arrest him. Just as in the trial of Jesus false witnesses were brought forward to bring spurious charges. The heart of the blasphemy charge was that Stephen s preaching would destroy this place and change the customs of Moses handed down to us. (14). V. Message of Stephen (7:1-53) A. Our Roots The God of glory appeared to our Father Abraham... (7:1-8) Notice that Stephen begins by establishing common ground. B. Our Relatives Joseph then invited his father Jacob and all his relatives, 75 people in all. (14) Genesis 46:26, 27, Exodus 1:5, and Deuteronomy 10:22 all record the number as seventy. Genesis 46:20 lists the extra five: two sons of Manasseh, two sons and one grandson of Ephraim. C. Our Redeemer This Moses, whom they rejected when they said, Who appointed 5 / 9
you a ruler and a judge? -this one God sent as a ruler and a redeemer by means of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. (35) Stephen was charged with speaking blasphemous words against Moses (6:11). In verses 17-45, Stephen tells the story of Moses reminding the Sanhedrin that Moses was chosen by God (20), chastised by the people (27), commissioned to service (32-34), called a deliverer (35), and conveyed the power of God through signs and wonders (36). The many parallels to Jesus are obvious. 1. Our Refuge However, the Most High does not dwell in sanctuaries made with hands... (48) (I Cor. 6:19-20) The other charge against Stephen was that he spoke blasphemous words against this holy place and the law (6:13). Stephen reminded the Sanhedrin that there have been several holy places and that the Jews didn t have an exclusive patent on God (Isa. 66:1-2). This rejection of Jewish exclusiveness was to have a profound effect on Saul of Tarsus and his ministry to the Gentile world. (Acts 9:15-16; 26:17-18; 28:26-28). 2. Our Requirement Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They even killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become. (52) Having answered their charges, Stephen leveled some charges of his own! His people had once rejected their deliverer (Moses) and now were on the verge of doing it again. They had blown the Old Covenant (7:53) and now wanted to reject the New Covenant as well (52). (Matt. 23:35). IV. Boldness in Dying (7:54 8:3) A. Martyrdom of Stephen (7:54-60) They threw him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul (58) This verse provides a transition on two fronts. The stoning of Stephen sparked overt persecution of the church. And the young Saul who will become the focal spokesman for Christianity was introduced. Stephen alludes to Jesus standing twice. Believer s Study Bible, p. 1555: 7:55, 56 Jesus appeared to Stephen as standing ; Paul wrote, seeking those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God (Col. 3:1). This is not a contradiction because of the dual nature of the work of Christ at the right hand of God. First John 2:1 states And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. An advocate is 6 / 9
a lawyer. During ordinary court procedures the advocate is seated according to decorum. If his client is attacked unfairly, the defending advocate is immediately on his feet to object. So Christ appeared to be standing, as He came to receive His client Stephen. (Rom. 8:34; Jude 24-25). B. Persecution by Saul On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem (8:1) Saul, however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison (8:3) When Saul became Paul, God gave him the most significant ministry in Christian history. But God s Word is brutally honest about his past. Despite his crimes, Paul could write, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. (II Cor. 5:17). It s instructive to compare 8:1 to 8:4: all except the apostles were scattered... (1) So those who were scattered went on their way preaching the message of good news (4). (I Pet. 1:1) preaching comes from the Greek word which we transliterate as evangelizing. Most of the witnessing in the early church was done, not by the preachers, but by the laity (and they all did it!) Application: 1. Sharing Jesus is the priority. 2. Sharing Jesus exacts a price. 3. Sharing Jesus changes people. Leader Pack Item 10: Accusations Faced by the Early Church Illustrator p. 72 Who were the Hellenistic Jews? Notes: **You may access David s Lesson Preview in MP3 format at: www.hfbcbiblestudy.or g ; also, the Highpoint Bible Study (Downtown) is available on MP3 at the HFBC site under the Highpoint 7 / 9
link/downloads. Dates: 2016 4/22-24 Summit Retreat; 4/22-23 Faith @ Work Conf. (Dallas Theological); 4/24 MIYCO; 4/30 Widow & Widowers Spring Luncheon; 5/1 NextGen Training Day; 5/8 SPF Mother s Day Luncheon; 5/11 - VBS Big Training Preschool & Children; 5/14 - CBS Graduation; 5/15 High School Senior Celebration Sunday; 5/15 SPF B-day Bash; 5/22 Parent Commitment & First Grade Bible; 5/27 Last Day of FBA; 5/29 AMP/WIRED Sunday; 6/3 Summer Kickoff at the Loop; 6/3-4 5 th grade Launch at the Loop; 6/5 Promotion Sunday (all campuses); 6/5 SPF Birthday Bash; 6/5-9 Elevate Choir Tour; 6/6 7/5 Pastor Gregg s Sabbatical; 6/12-15 Camp Intersect; 6/18-25 HUB Intl. Mission Trip; 6/19 SPF Father s Day Lunch; 6/25 8 / 9
Men: Serve; 6/27-30 VBS @ Loop only family night on 6/29. 9 / 9