Acts 6

The growing church faces its first internal complaint over the care of widows, and the apostles respond by appointing seven Spirit-filled men to oversee it, so the word of God keeps spreading. Then Stephen, one of the seven, is opposed for his wisdom and power, falsely accused, and brought before the Sanhedrin, where his face shines like an angel’s.

Acts 6:1

Growth brought a problem. Greek-speaking Jewish believers felt their widows were being missed in the daily food help, while Hebrew-speaking widows were served. The church is not perfect, but the complaint is taken seriously and dealt with, not ignored.

BSA: Grecian Jews (“Hellenists, Greek-speaking Jews”): They were Jews who had grown up in the wider Greek world, with a different language and culture from the local Hebrew-speaking believers. overlooked (“neglected, disregarded”): The widows were not attacked, only missed, yet being forgotten still hurt the vulnerable.

See also: Acts 2:44-45; Exodus 16:7.

Acts 6:2

The Twelve call the whole community together. They do not despise practical service, but they know their own calling is to teach and pray. Caring for the poor and teaching God’s word both matter, and each needs people who give themselves fully to it.

BSA: neglect (“leave behind, abandon”): The apostles would have to drop their central work if they took on the daily food distribution as well.

Acts 6:3

The church is to choose seven men known for being full of the Spirit and wisdom. Even a task about food needed spiritual qualities, not just organizing skill. The people choose; the apostles then appoint them to the task.

BSA: full (“complete, filled up”): Their lives were thoroughly marked by the Spirit, and others could see it. wisdom (“higher understanding”): Practical fairness in a delicate dispute called for godly insight.

See also: 1 Timothy 3:8-10.

Acts 6:4

The apostles will give themselves steadily to prayer and to the ministry of the word. Prayer comes first. The work of teaching God’s message grows out of time spent with God himself.

BSA: devote (“give ourselves continually, steadfastly”): This is a settled, persistent commitment, not an occasional activity.

Greek: προσκαρτερήσομεν (proskarterēsomen, G4342) — “we will persevere, stay steadily with.” It describes sticking to something with strong determination. The same word marks the early church’s devotion in Acts 2:42.

See also: Acts 2:42.

Acts 6:5

The whole group liked the plan and chose seven. All the names are Greek, which suggests the church chose men from the very group that felt overlooked. Stephen is singled out for faith and the Holy Spirit. Nicolas had come to Judaism from outside Israel and lived in Antioch.

BSA: faith (“trust, confidence”): Stephen’s life rested on a deep confidence in God, which shows in what follows.

Acts 6:6

The seven are brought before the apostles, who pray and lay hands on them. This was a quiet, public way of setting people apart for service and asking God to bless and equip them. The work is placed in God’s hands.

BSA: laid (“placed, imposed”): The laying on of hands was a visible sign of commissioning and blessing.

See also: Numbers 27:18-23.

Acts 6:7

Once the problem is handled well, the word of God spreads again. The church grows in Jerusalem, and even many priests, who served in the temple, come to obey the faith. Unity and good order make room for fruitfulness.

BSA: obedient (“submissive, trusting”): Coming to faith is described as yielding to the gospel, not merely agreeing with it.

Greek: ὑπήκουον (hypēkouon, G5219) — “were obeying, listening under.” The word literally means to hear and submit. Here faith is something to be obeyed, not just believed.

See also: Romans 1:5.

Acts 6:8

Stephen’s service of tables did not limit him. Full of grace and power, he did great wonders and signs among the people. God’s gifts are not held back for those with only ‘spiritual’ jobs.

BSA: grace (“unmerited favor”): Stephen’s power was a gift from God, not something he earned. power (“divine ability, strength”): The wonders came from God’s ability working through him.

Acts 6:9

Opposition came from men of a synagogue made up of Jews from the wider world. Freedmen were Jews who had been slaves, or were descended from slaves, and had been freed. They came from places like Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia and Asia. They began to debate Stephen.

BSA: Freedmen (“liberated slaves, former captives”): These were people whose families had once been enslaved, and now they were zealous for their Jewish heritage. argue (“debate, discuss, reason”): At first this was open debate about the faith, before it turned ugly.

Acts 6:10

They could not answer him. His words carried wisdom and the Spirit’s authority, and their arguments fell apart. Jesus had promised that his followers would be given words when pressed by opponents.

BSA: stand up to (“be strong enough to”): They simply lacked the strength to withstand what he said.

See also: Luke 21:15.

Acts 6:11

Beaten in argument, they turned to scheming. They secretly put men up to claim that Stephen blasphemed against Moses and God. When truth cannot be refuted, lies are often used to silence it.

BSA: prompted (“suborned, secretly induced”): The accusers were bribed or coached behind the scenes, so this was a planned plot. blasphemy (“evil, slanderous speech”): It was among the most serious charges in Jewish law.

Acts 6:12

They stirred up the crowd, the elders and the scribes. This is the first time the people turn against the church. Before, the believers had favor with the people. Stephen is seized and dragged before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high council.

BSA: stirred up (“to arouse, provoke”): Public feeling was whipped up deliberately, so this was not a spontaneous outcry.

See also: Acts 2:47.

Acts 6:13

False witnesses are brought in. They say Stephen never stops speaking against the temple and the law. Twisting a person’s words into an accusation is an old tactic, and it was used against Jesus too.

BSA: false (“deceitful”): The witnesses were not just mistaken. They lied on purpose.

See also: Mark 14:56-58.

Acts 6:14

The charge: Stephen said Jesus of Nazareth would destroy the temple and change Moses’ customs. It echoes words said against Jesus himself. The accusation mixes some truth with distortion. Jesus did speak of the temple’s end, but the accusers present it as hostility to God.

BSA: customs (“traditional practices, habits”): To them these were precious, God-given ways of life, so a threat to them felt like a threat to God.

See also: Matthew 26:61; John 2:19.

Acts 6:15

Everyone in the council stared at Stephen and saw his face like an angel’s. Facing hostile judges, he is calm and radiant. It is a picture of God’s presence resting on a faithful witness in the hardest place.

BSA: looked intently (“gazing steadfastly, with focused attention”): No one could look away, which shows how striking the sight was. angel (“messenger, heavenly being”): An angel is a messenger from God, and Stephen’s face showed that he carried God’s message.

Greek: ἀτενίσαντες (atenisantes, G816) — “fixing their eyes on, staring.” This is a long, fixed gaze. It is the same word used for the disciples staring up at heaven when Jesus ascended.

See also: Exodus 34:29-35.