In Acts 6:2-4, the twelve apostles gave a solution to a problem, where certain widows were not receiving a fair allocation of food. They suggested that the body select candidates to help ensure equity in the distribution. When faced with the wisdom of God, it makes sense for the church to agree, and so they did.
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. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
Acts 6:5-6 NIV
Note that the apostles didn’t even select the new leaders. They set some basic criteria (see Acts 6:3-4) and let the congregation choose. Then, these seven were commissioned for a purpose. (We might think of an “ordination” as something similar.)
We meet Stephen and Philip again later in Acts, but let’s consider “Nicolas from Antioch”: A proselyte (per NASB; “convert” in NIV) was someone who wasn’t Jewish by birth, but who had chosen to follow the Jewish faith, and had taken certain steps to become a Jew. So, we expect that Nicolas had been circumcised in order to become Jewish himself.
However, Wikipedia says that Antioch was a Hellenistic city. So, even though all seven of these men were considered to be wise and full of the Holy Spirit, at least one of them would be able to identify with the Hellenistic widows who were being overlooked. Nicolas from Antioch would have probably spoken their language (i.e., Greek), allowing him to listen to their concerns and to explain what was going to be done about it. Imagine how good it would have felt for these marginalized women to be able to talk with one of their own who shared the leadership of this ministry. And, it’s quite possible that others in this list were Hellenistic, too (per sources cited below). Regardless of how many were Greek, though, I think that including at least one Hellenistic leader was God-honoring, wise, and practical.
As a side note, do you wonder if anyone begrudged the Hellenistic widows better treatment?
- Maybe the Hebraic widows got a little less food than before, or had to wait longer on average.
- Maybe the previous “servers” who were (hypothetically, per a previous article) excluding the Hellenistic widows were still biased and unhappy that any Hellenistic person would be made a leader.
- Maybe someone else wanted to be in charge.
During these times, it’s important to understand that, in the church, the elevation of one person’s state (whether their physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual needs are being cared for) doesn’t mean that others are lowered, since God can provide blessings for all. Even leadership in the church isn’t something we should seek for fame or control, but rather as an opportunity to serve others.
Some might consider these men to be the first “deacons”, serving within ministries in the church other than preaching and teaching. The term “deacon” appears elsewhere in the New Testament, but it doesn’t seem to be defined exactly. 1 Timothy 3:10 indicates that deacons serve, though, and the Lookout indicates that the word we translate “deacon” is related to the “Greek verb for ‘serving,’ ”.
I don’t think that we have to know exactly how to define a deacon, though, in order to understand that the church needs people to serve. While I think that each of us should contribute in our own way to the Kingdom of God, there are also those who take on certain leadership roles, ensuring that ministries of the church are successful (through seeking and following God’s will).
The result in Acts 6:7 – as we can see elsewhere in Acts – is that the church grew. This isn’t some competition with other faiths, nor a source of pride or boasting. It is the good news in action: not only can people be saved from their sins; but people are being saved from their sins.
And, although we may not always give the Jewish religious leaders of the first century a lot of credit (since some of them fought against Jesus and His followers), priests are following Jesus. A cynic might say that the message about Jesus would have to be really compelling for someone to change their faith as a result. In fact, the truth of Jesus Christ is compelling, and many have changed their faith to follow Him. However, I also consider Jesus to be the fulfillment of the Jewish faith, and I hope that a lot of these priests saw that Jesus was the Messiah, and that accepting His salvation was the next step in God’s plan for the Jewish people.
So, may each of us step up to serve in our role within the church, seeking the superior wisdom of God as to the specifics, and then watch the church grow, celebrating the redemption of souls to a life of joy.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for October 15, 2023
References:
- The Lookout, October 15, 2023, © 2023 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
- New Testament History: A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Acts, by Gareth L. Reese. © 1976, College Press Publishing Company.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Acts, by Dennis Gaertner. © 1993 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 