Acts 6: The Apostles Appoint Seven Deacons

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Parent Category: Division 5. The Gospels of Jesus & Acts of Apostles
Category: Acts

Bible Study/Commentary

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  3. Q & A

Overview of Acts Chapter 6

The chapter begins with a practical challenge within the Church, leading to the appointment of the first deacons.

This step ensures efficient care for widows and allows the apostles to prioritize their primary responsibilities of prayer, and the ministry of the Word.

Acts 6 introduces a challenge within the Church in Jerusalem related to the distribution of food to Greek widows.

The apostles appoint seven men, that the disciples had chosen, to be the deacons, to oversee this task.

The chapter also highlights the ministry and opposition faced by Stephen, who was one of those deacons.

Verses 1-7: Appointment of the Seven

A complaint arises concerning the distribution of food, specifically that the Hellenistic widows are being overlooked.

The apostles, have the disciples select men who were qualified for this responsibility, to ensure the fair distribution of resources.

From those who were selected, the apostles then appoint seven of the men, who were filled with the Spirit and wisdom.

These men, including Stephen, are given the task of serving the tables. This allowed the apostles to focus on prayer, and the ministry of the Word.

Verses 8-15: Stephen's Ministry and Arrest

Stephen, full of grace and power, performs great wonders and signs among the people.

Opposition arises from some members, of the Synagogue of the Freedmen.

False accusations are made against Stephen, leading to his arrest.

Stephen, one of the newly appointed deacons, emerges as a powerful and bold witness for Christ.

His ministry is marked by miracles, but it also draws opposition.

False accusations result in his arrest, setting the stage for Stephen's powerful defense in the subsequent chapters.

In Conclusion

Acts 6 addresses a practical challenge within the Church, leading to the appointment of the first deacons, who were appointed by the apostles.

This was to ensure the fair distribution of food, to the Greek widows.

It also allowed the apostles to focus on prayer and the ministry of the Word.

The chapter also introduces Stephen, whose ministry and subsequent arrest become significant elements in the unfolding narrative.

6 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, 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 Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Stephen Is Seized

8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, “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 they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, 13 and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” 15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Q&A

Acts 6:1
Q1: What complaint arose among the disciples, as mentioned in Acts 6:1?
A1: A complaint arose among the disciples that the Hellenistic widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.

Acts 6:2-3
Q2: How did the twelve apostles respond to the complaint about the distribution of food, as mentioned in Acts 6:2-3?
A2: The twelve apostles summoned the full number of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty."

Acts 6:5
Q3: Who were the seven men chosen by the disciples to serve tables, as mentioned in Acts 6:5?
A3: The seven men chosen were Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.

Acts 6:6
Q4: How did the apostles commission the seven men they had chosen, as mentioned in Acts 6:6?
A4: The apostles prayed and laid their hands on the seven men, commissioning them for the service of serving tables.

Acts 6:7
Q5: What was the result of the word of God spreading, as mentioned in Acts 6:7?
A5: The word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Acts 6:8
Q6: What was Stephen full of, and what great wonders and signs did he do among the people, as mentioned in Acts 6:8?
A6: Stephen was full of grace and power and was doing great wonders and signs among the people.

Acts 6:9
Q7: Who disputed with Stephen, as mentioned in Acts 6:9?
A7: Some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen.

Acts 6:10
Q8: How did these disputants feel unable to withstand the wisdom and Spirit with which Stephen was speaking, as mentioned in Acts 6:10?
A8: These disputants could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen was speaking.

Acts 6:11-14
Q9: What false charges were brought against Stephen by some men in Acts 6:11-14?
A9: False witnesses testified that Stephen spoke blasphemous words against Moses and God, and they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they seized him and brought him before the council.

Acts 6:15
Q10: How did those in the council see Stephen's face, as mentioned in Acts 6:15?
A10: Those in the council saw that Stephen's face was like the face of an angel.