Acts 6:7, commentary and pictures

After the seven were chosen to care for the widows and the poor while the apostles gave themselves to prayer and preaching, the message spread widely and the church in Jerusalem grew greatly in numbers and strength, with a large company of priests accepting the faith. It is God's plan for the work that those called to spiritual labor give themselves to the word and prayer, while temporal and business responsibilities are entrusted to others. Those chosen for the practical service are to be wise, faithful, prayerful men, filled with the Holy Spirit, selected by the believers and set apart by prayer and the laying on of hands. The increase came both because the apostles were freed to teach and because the seven served with zeal and power, teaching the truth earnestly and successfully even as they cared for the poor. Many priests were led to confess Jesus as the Son of God and the true sacrifice, prepared by the tearing of the temple veil, the signs attending His death, and the study of prophecy that convicted them of His character.

Order and Church Growth

The verse stands at a time when disciples were multiplying in Jerusalem as the gospel was preached there, and Stephen was preaching among Greek-speaking Jews with wisdom given by the Holy Spirit that his learned opponents could not resist. That growth in membership brought heavier responsibilities, and suspicion arose with complaint over the care of Greek widows, threatening the unity that Christian love had created among believers. Prompt sharing of the work among more workers was necessary to prevent division from hindering the progress of the gospel and to protect the continued prosperity of the church.

It belongs to a plan for church work approved by God, in which those called to preach and care for spiritual matters give themselves to the word, to prayer, and to the ministry of the word, while business, temporal, secular and political responsibilities are assigned to others. Ministers are not to be tied to overseeing business matters but to be left free to proclaim the message and give their time and talents to Christian work, with wise, devoted people who understand God's principles overseeing the church's business needs. When men were appointed to handle the church's practical business, the apostles could give themselves to teaching the truth.

Those entrusted with the practical work were to be qualified, wise, devoted, faithful men who pray, men filled with the Holy Spirit who understand God's principles. They were chosen by the gathered believers in an orderly choice and appointed through prayer and the laying on of hands to oversee special service such as care for widows, care for the poor, and the distribution of aid. The instructions of the chapter are to be carefully studied and followed, assigning the work's business matters to such devoted men.

After the seven were appointed and worked together in their assigned service while the apostles continued in prayer and the ministry of the word, God greatly blessed the arrangement with advance in numbers and strength. The word of God increased and spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem. That orderly organization, with responsibility for temporal affairs entrusted to qualified officers so the apostles could focus on teaching, supports the work of ministry and the growth of the church.

The growth came both because the apostles were freed and made freer to teach and preach, and because the seven served with zeal and power. Their responsibility to care for the poor and their appointment to special duties did not prevent them from teaching, for they were qualified to instruct others in the faith and taught earnestly and successfully.

Orderly, fairly divided service therefore supports ministry and church prosperity, and the order should be maintained by entrusting practical duties to capable, spiritually wise people and relieving spiritual leaders of business cares for prayer, study, and ministry. A leader's office is no reason to personally take on every task, but to delegate necessary work so those called to preach can give themselves to the word. The General Conference Committee should follow this same pattern by appointing devoted people of faith and prayer to manage business matters, leaving its leaders free to care for the church's spiritual needs.

Priests Obedient to Faith

After Pentecost the word of God increased in Jerusalem as the gospel was boldly proclaimed, the number of the disciples multiplied greatly, and a great company of the priests became obedient to the faith and accepted it. After Jesus' resurrection many priests acknowledged Him as the Son of God and joined the faith as the word spread. Their change of religious ideas followed the signs surrounding Christ's death, including the tearing of the temple veil, which prepared some to believe.

They had also been given opportunity to witness His divine power through the healed leper and their own certification of his cure. By searching the prophecies they were convicted of Jesus' true character and prepared to recognize who He was. After searching the prophecies they were convicted that He was the true Messiah, and after His resurrection acknowledged Him as the Son of God.

In becoming obedient to the faith they turned from their traditions and from sacrifices and offerings to accept Jesus as the great sacrifice. The call to become obedient to the faith still applies to sick and suffering people, who may come confidently to Christ for bodily restoration. Many who come to sanitariums will there learn the truth of God's Word and become obedient children of faith, including people who would not learn it by another means.