Acts 6
by Pastor David Groendyk

At the very birth of the church in Acts 1–7, the believers are facing many different types of challenges and trials, both from outside the church and inside the church. There has been persecution and intimidation from local authorities (chs. 4–5), the threat of hypocrisy and lies from the church’s own members (ch. 5), and now they’re facing the issue of division. The specific problem is that certain widows in the church were being overlooked when it came to the daily distribution of material things (like bread) in the church. Imagine doing this job in the first century—no phones, no texting, no calling, no vehicles. It would’ve been a challenging job in its own right, but it was more than individual widows slipping through the cracks. Hebrew widows (Aramaic-speaking Jews from Palestine) were being favored over Hellenist widows (Greek-speaking Jews from out of town). Culture and language differences were leading to an entire people group in the church being neglected. You can imagine the imminent threat that this would pose to their gospel witness—do only Palestinian-born Jews get the full benefits of being in the church, or is it really for anyone and everyone?

The apostles’ solution is to organize and ordain the office of deacon. Acts 6 is one of the pivotal New Testament chapters that gives us the qualifications and job description for deacons. They must be men full of the Holy Spirit, full of wisdom, full of faith, and have a good reputation. They are tasked with taking care of the physical and material needs of the church members, especially widows. The first seven are chosen and ordained, but was it the right decision? Yes! Thankfully, verse 7 tells us directly that this apparent threat to the church was thwarted by godly wisdom and action. This speaks to the importance of godly, organized leadership in the church. Without godly, spiritual men, the church will suffer. This is why we make such a big deal when the time comes every year to nominate men for elder and deacon at Tyrone. These are God-given offices through which the church flourishes.

It’s hard to say, however, just how long Stephen serves in his office until the incident in verse 8 begins. Much more can be said about Stephen in the next chapter, but his character and godliness are reiterated in this section. He was winsome and charitable yet didn’t shrink from proclaiming the gospel even when his life was threatened. Notice how similarly he is treated to Jesus. Stephen is (about to be) convicted by a kangaroo court whose sole witnesses and evidence were men who had been paid to lie. Like master, like disciple. Notice verse 15 as well—Stephen’s face shone like an angel. Something about his appearance changed in that moment, and it should have tipped everyone off to the truthfulness of Stephen’s message. Do you remember who else shone in the Bible? Just two men: Moses, the very man he was accused of blaspheming (see Ex. 34:29–30), and Jesus (see Matt. 17:1–2). Stephen’s changed appearance should have jarred awake all of his false accusers. As one writer puts it, he was “a witness to and a reflection of the glory of God’s presence.” What a tragedy that they refused to listen! On the other hand, Stephen’s death became a gateway for the gospel to go to the Gentiles. It’s how we are introduced to Saul for the first time (Acts 7:58), and it sparks a great persecution that sends the church out to the world rather than hunkering down in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1). Stephen’s faithfulness unto death had a dramatic impact on world history. Although most of us will not have the same world-changing effect, every one of us ought to strive for the same character, truthfulness, boldness, power, winsomeness, and faithfulness in our daily interactions with unbelievers around us. May God bless the church and make us more like Stephen!