Teach About the Bible

Chapter Summary

Acts 6 describes a pivotal moment where the early church faced its first major internal conflict and external persecution. As the number of believers grew, the leaders had to organize the community to ensure everyone was cared for while keeping the focus on teaching. This chapter introduces us to Stephen, a man whose faith and service set the stage for the next great expansion of the Gospel.

Core Passages from Acts 6
Acts 6:3Therefore, 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.
This verse establishes that even 'practical' jobs like food distribution require men of high spiritual character and wisdom. It shows that in God's kingdom, there is no divide between secular work and spiritual service.
Acts 6:7And 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.
This summary shows that when the church handles internal problems well, it leads to explosive growth. Even some of the Jewish priests, who were often the most resistant, began to follow Jesus.
Acts 6:15And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
As Stephen faces false accusations, his physical appearance reflects his inner peace and divine approval. This 'angelic' face serves as a sign that God is with him even in the midst of a trial.

Finding unity and strength not in uniformity, but in wholehearted trust and service to one another, as the body of believers comes together to support and uplift each other, just as Stephen's faith and service set the stage for the next great expansion of the Gospel, echoing the words of Acts 6:8, 'Full of God's grace and power, Stephen performed great wonders and signs among the people.'

Historical & Cultural Context

Solving Problems Through Servant Leadership

The early church in Jerusalem is booming, but with more people comes more complexity. A rift develops between the Greek-speaking Jews (Hellenists) and the local Aramaic-speaking Jews (Hebrews) because the Greek-speaking widows are being overlooked during the daily food hand-outs. This tension threatens the unity that was so carefully described in the previous chapters of Acts.

The Rise of Stephen and the Cost of Boldness

After the church appoints seven men to handle the food distribution, one of them, Stephen, begins to stand out. He isn't only serving tables. He performs miracles and speaks with such wisdom that his opponents cannot win an argument against him. This success triggers a backlash from a specific group of religious leaders who decide to use lies to stop him.

Finding unity and trust in the wisdom of spiritual leadership, guided by the Holy Spirit, to serve and care for one another in times of need

Organization and Opposition in Jerusalem

In Acts 6:1-15, the scene begins in the heart of the Jerusalem church where a complaint about unfairness leads to a new way of organizing ministry. The focus then shifts to Stephen, one of the newly appointed helpers, as he moves from serving the poor to defending the faith before a hostile council.

Addressing the Complaint (Acts 6:1-4)

¹ 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.”

Commentary:

The Apostles delegate food distribution to others so they can focus on prayer and teaching.

The Apostles recognize that they cannot do everything themselves without neglecting their primary calling to pray and teach. They don't dismiss the complaint about the widows. Instead, they empower the community to choose leaders who can solve the problem. This shows that every need in the church is important, but not every person is called to meet every need.

Related Verse Analysis

An Analysis of Acts 6:1-7: Choosing Wisdom, Serving Fairly

Choosing the Seven (Acts 6:5-7)

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 They set before the apostles, and when they had prayed, they 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.

Commentary:

Seven Spirit-filled men are appointed to serve, leading to even more people joining the faith.

The community chooses seven men, all of whom have Greek names, suggesting the church specifically chose people from the group that felt neglected to ensure fairness. The Apostles pray and lay hands on them, which is a way of officially giving them the authority to do this work. As a result of this healthy resolution, the church continues to grow rapidly, even reaching the religious elite.

Stephen's Powerful Ministry (Acts 6:8-10)

⁸ And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.
⁹ But 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.

Commentary:

Stephen performs miracles and speaks with a wisdom that his critics cannot defeat.

Stephen is described as being full of grace and power, doing great wonders among the people. When he is challenged by members of various synagogues, they find they cannot argue with the wisdom given to him by the Holy Spirit. This highlights that God's power isn't limited to the original twelve Apostles. It is available to anyone who is fully committed to Him.

False Accusations and an Angelic Face (Acts 6:11-15)

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,
And they set up false witnesses who said, "This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 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.

Commentary:

Opponents use lies to arrest Stephen, but he remains remarkably peaceful in the face of danger.

Unable to win fairly, Stephen's enemies resort to 'secretly instigating' men to lie about him, claiming he spoke against Moses and God. They stir up a mob and drag him before the high council, using the same tactics they used against Jesus. Despite the intense pressure and the threat of death, Stephen remains calm, and his face shines with a supernatural light that everyone notices.

Spiritual Lessons from the Early Church's Growth

Unity Over Uniformity

The conflict between the Hellenists and Hebrews shows that the early church was diverse and had real-world problems. By addressing the cultural bias directly and fairly, they proved that the Gospel creates a new family where everyone's needs matter regardless of their background.

The Character of a Servant

The requirements for the seven men - good reputation, full of the Spirit, and wisdom - remind us that God cares more about who we are than what we can do. Even 'administrative' tasks are seen as spiritual work that requires a heart aligned with God.

Wisdom Under Pressure

Stephen's experience reveals that when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, God provides the words and the strength we need to face opposition. His peace in the council is a testament to the fact that God's presence is most visible when we are under fire for our faith.

Serving others in humility and trust, allowing the ministry of the word to flourish through faithful delegation and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

Applying Acts 6 to Your Daily Life

How should I handle conflict or unfairness in my community?

Acts 6:1-3 shows that we should address complaints directly and with a solution-oriented mindset. Instead of letting bitterness grow, you can look for ways to empower others and create systems that ensure everyone is treated with dignity and love.

What does it mean for me to be 'full of the Spirit' in my work?

Whether you are 'serving tables' or leading a meeting, Acts 6:3-5 suggests that your character is your greatest asset. You can apply this by inviting God into your daily tasks, seeking His wisdom for small decisions, and maintaining a good reputation through honesty and kindness.

How can I stay peaceful when people misunderstand or oppose me?

Looking at Acts 6:15, we see that Stephen's peace came from his focus on God rather than his accusers. When you face unfair criticism, you can find strength by remembering that God's approval is more important than the opinions of others, allowing His peace to reflect in your reactions.

Empowered to Serve and Defend

Acts 6 reveals that God's work moves forward through both organized service and bold witness. When the church prioritizes unity and spiritual integrity, it creates a foundation that can withstand any external pressure. The message is clear: whether we are meeting physical needs or sharing the truth of Jesus, we must do so while being completely led by the Holy Spirit. God honors those who serve with humility and stand for the truth with courage.

What This Means for Us Today

Acts 6 invites us to see every task as an opportunity to be filled with the Spirit. As the seven were chosen to serve, we are called to look for the needs around us and meet them with grace. When we do, we reflect the light of Christ to a world that is often looking for reasons to doubt.

Is there a 'practical' area of your life where you need to invite the Holy Spirit's wisdom today?
How can you help promote unity in your church or community when you see a group being overlooked?
Are you prepared to respond with grace and peace if your faith is ever challenged?

Serving others in wholehearted obedience to God's will brings harmony and unity to the community of faith

Discussion Questions

Why do you think the Apostles insisted that the people chosen to hand out food had to be 'full of the Spirit and wisdom'?
In what ways can internal conflict actually help a church or organization grow stronger if it is handled correctly?
Stephen's face looked like an angel's while he was being falsely accused. What does this tell us about the relationship between our inner spiritual life and our outward appearance?