Acts 6:5, commentary and pictures

When the disciples were multiplying and a complaint arose that Greek widows were being neglected, the proposal to choose seven men pleased the whole multitude and they together chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas. The men were to be of honest report and full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, and Stephen stood foremost among them and at their head as deeply pious, bold, learned, and suited by his Greek speech and customs to care for the Greek widows and to preach to Greek-speaking Jews. They were set apart to share the practical responsibility of attending to the business of the cause and caring for widows, orphans and the needy, so that those called to preach would not be tied down by secular cares but could give themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word. The choice was made only after careful, prayerful deliberation for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the men were then set apart for their work as deacons by the laying on of hands. The selection satisfied all minds and quieted the murmuring, and God blessed the order to strengthen the unity of the church and advance it in number and strength, with a great company of the priests becoming obedient to the faith.

Setting and Selection

The verse belongs to the time when the number of disciples was multiplying and a complaint arose that the Greek widows were being neglected in the daily ministration, a grievance that required prompt attention lest it divide believers. The proposal to meet the need pleased the whole multitude, and the entire body of believers together approved it and chose the seven, so that the selection was not the act of one person alone. The same united approval is seen in that the whole congregation and the people accepted the apostles' plan and arrangement for the assigned service.

The seven were chosen to share the practical responsibility in closely united work rather than leaving great responsibility to one person. Their task was to attend to the business of the cause and to supervise the disbursement of funds and the care of widows, orphans, fatherless children, and other worthy poor and needy people. Stephen was placed first and at the head of this work of oversight and distribution.

The choice was brought before God and made with earnest prayer for guidance, that the Holy Spirit would show whether the candidates were acceptable to serve as God's representatives. It was made in accord with the Holy Spirit by men who had given evidence of fitness, and those chosen were then set apart for their duties as deacons by the laying on of hands. The apostles led in this unitedly in the Holy Spirit at a time when growing responsibilities required others to share burdens previously carried by a few.

The appointment was not made hastily but only after careful, prayerful deliberation and reliance on God. Even the apostles, though men of faith filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered to do mighty works, acted with trembling and fear in selecting bearers of the church's burdens. They chose after careful consideration, waiting until character, fitness for the office, and developed character were known.

Being a good man who can pray with power and talk to the point is no proof of a call to devote time to labor for souls as God's mouthpiece. Even those who had power over unclean spirits and to heal the sick dared not set anyone apart for the holy work on their own wisdom alone, but waited for unmistakable manifestation of the Holy Spirit. God lays on chosen ministers, in union with the church and with manifest tokens of the Spirit, the duty of deciding who is fit for the holy work and who should go and who is unfit to go, for He will not entrust the burden for His flock to unqualified individuals, and leaving the decision to scattered individuals here and there brings confusion and distraction everywhere.

The Men Chosen

The men were to be of honest report and full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, devoted people of faith and prayer, with Stephen specifically singled out as a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost. Those entrusted with church responsibilities must therefore have genuine spiritual qualifications and serve faithfully and unselfishly. Their example supplies the standard for sharing leadership as honest and steadfast people, filled with the Holy Spirit, not open to being bought, sold, or misled.

Stephen was chosen first and stood foremost among the seven and at their head. Though Jewish by birth and religion, he spoke Greek and knew Greek customs and manners, which made him especially suited to oversee distribution to Greek-speaking widows and gave him opportunity to preach the gospel in the synagogues of Greek-speaking Jews. He was deeply pious and broad in faith, bold in proclaiming his faith, learned in the prophecies and the law, speaking with wisdom through the power of the Holy Spirit, and he performed wonders and miracles.

Being appointed to this special service did not prevent the seven from teaching the faith, for they were qualified by faith and the Spirit's wisdom both to handle church responsibilities and to instruct others in the truth. They taught earnestly and successfully and helped bring many to the faith. Philip is named among the seven deacons, and when Saul's persecution scattered the Jerusalem church and disrupted their work, Philip preached to the Samaritans and baptized the Ethiopian eunuch.

Stephen's fullness of faith and the Holy Spirit is the mark of the spiritual life sought in the church, and he stands among the faithful servants who would be condemned and killed for serving God.

Order and Its Fruit

The choosing in Acts 6:5 sets forth God's approved plan, order, and system for organizing the church, to be maintained now as in the apostles' days. Qualified, wise, God-devoted people who understand heaven's principles and walk with God are chosen to transact the temporal and business responsibilities of the cause, while others attend to spiritual work. Those called to preach, to minister in word and doctrine, and to oversee the spiritual interest of the church are thus not tied to one place by secular, political, or administrative cares. They are left free to give themselves to prayer, meditation, study of Scripture, ministry of the word, teaching the truth, and evangelism.

Each worker is to carry out the duties entrusted to him rather than take on responsibilities assigned to others. All matters of a temporal nature properly come before the proper officers to be adjusted by them. Only matters so difficult as to baffle their wisdom are to be carried into the council of those who have oversight of the entire church, though difficult matters could still be brought to the leaders overseeing the whole church. Entering into lesser details of business and dealing with the various temperaments of those who meet in church capacity dims clear spiritual discernment. Burdening ministers with business oversight is not conducive to their spirituality.

The prosperity, numbers, and strength of the cause depends very largely on this arrangement. Its instructions apply to choosing people to handle business matters and give counsel and to choosing God's servants generally. They should be devoted, faithful, spiritually qualified men of faith and prayer, set apart for that work and sent out to proclaim the gospel. They are to work humbly and devotedly among people rather than gather in large numbers in one place. In the setting of the chapter, the widows and fatherless were to be supported by special donations, while the tithe was consecrated to God and used to support the ministry.

The selection satisfied all minds and quieted the dissatisfaction and murmuring. The men's work and godly example strengthened the unity of the church while helping care for the poor and manage the church's needs. Their earnest teaching helped bring many to the faith. The appointment was blessed by God and helped the church grow and advance in number and strength, with a great company of the priests becoming obedient to the faith. The success came both through the greater freedom secured to the apostles for their own work and through the zeal and power manifested by the seven.