DEVOTED TO PRAYER AND THE WORD
Acts 6:1-15
and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” (4)
chapter 6
1. In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
2. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.
3. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them
4. and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."
5. This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
6. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7. So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
8. Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.
9. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called) - Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia - who began to argue with Stephen.
10. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.
11. Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, "We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God."
12. So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.
13. They produced false witnesses, who testified, "This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.
14. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us."
15. All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
1. The Grecian Jews had been born and raised in other parts of the Roman Empire. The natives of Jerusalem were Hebraic Jews. The common life, in which they shared material things and cared for the needy, gave rise to some problems. The Grecian Jews complained that their widows were being neglected. The Twelve made this problem an opportunity to turn responsibility for material oversight over to others, so that they could give their attention to prayer and the ministry of the word. They were also wise and gave the responsibility of serving to other wise and spiritual men. They didn’t see complaining as making trouble, but as an area that they needed to grow in.
2. They chose men who might have been from among the Hellenistic Jews based on their names. But they were chosen because of their spiritual qualifications. The apostles prayed and laid their hands on them. And afterwards, when the apostles were able to focus on prayer and the word, the word of God spread. Even many priests believed in Jesus and became obedient to Christ.
Prayer: Father, help us to turn our problems into an opportunity for spiritual growth, so that the focus may be on prayer and your word.
One Word: Keep spiritual priorities