Acts 6

Acts 6:1-12

The Church’s Structure (Divine Service): Key Witnesses that Began the Spread of Gospel into Judea and Samaria – While Acts 2:1 to Acts 5:42 gives us the testimony of the founding and growth of the Church in Jerusalem, the stoning of Stephen gave rise to the spreading of the Church to Judea and Samaria. Acts 6:1 to Acts 12:25 serves as the testimony of the spread of the Gospel to the regions beyond Jerusalem as a result of persecution, which was in fulfillment of Jesus’ command to the apostles at His ascension, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) In Acts 6:1-7 the New Testament Church begins to structure itself with the office of the deacon. One of these deacons named Stephen becomes the first martyr of the Church (Acts 6:8 to Acts 7:1 a). As the result of a great persecution fueled by the zeal of Saul of Tarsus, the Gospel begins to spread into Judea and Samaria. Philip the evangelist takes the Gospel into Samaria and to an Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:5-40), Saul of Tarsus is converted (Acts 9:1-31), Peter takes the Gospel beyond Jerusalem to the house of a Gentile named Cornelius (Acts 9:32 to Acts 10:48), while Luke provides additional testimonies of Church growth to Antioch and further persecutions (Acts 11:1 to Acts 12:25). These testimonies emphasize the spread of the Gospel into Judea and Samaria. Outline – Here is a proposed outline:

1. Introduction: Appointment of First Deacons — Acts 6:1-62. The Witness of Stephen — Acts 6:7 to Acts 8:43. The Witness of Philip the Evangelist — Acts 8:5-404. The Witness of Paul’s Conversion — Acts 9:1-315. The Witness of Peter — Acts 9:32 to Acts 10:486. The Witness of Church Growth — Acts 11:1 to Acts 12:25

Acts 6:7-8

The Witness of Stephen – In Acts 6:7 to Acts 8:4 Luke records the witness of Stephen. The importance of his testimony is the fact that he is the first martyr of the Church, ushering in a period of persecution that spread the Gospel abroad. Outline – Here is a proposed outline:

1. Stephen’s Arrest — Acts 6:7-152. Stephen’s Sermon — Acts 7:1-533. Stephen is Stoned — Acts 7:54 to Acts 8:1 a4. The Persecution and Scattering of the early Church — Acts 8:1 b-4