ACTS LESSON 13

     We will begin this lesson in Acts 6:1 "And in those days, when
the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of
the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected
in the daily ministration."

    We see, here, the church growing to a large number.  As long as
the church was small and they each were greatly needed, they were all
pulling in one direction.  They were working for a common cause.  Now
that the number has gotten so large, there is murmuring.  Some of the
Greeks think the Hebrew widows are being cared for better than the
Greeks.  It seems that the early church was very concerned about the
needs of widows.  Many times widows lived in the church and prayed for
the church.  In I Timothy 5:9, Paul tells them to not take a widow
under 60 years.

    Acts 6:2 "Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples
[unto them], and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word
of God, and serve tables."

    These twelve disciples who seemed to be the leaders of all the
rest are explaining that they should not be encumbered by trying to
see to the needs of all of these widows.  The man or woman of God
ministering has enough to do staying in the Word of God and bringing
spiritual guidance to the people.  Some one else should see to the
financial responsibilities of the church.  If they have to stop and
see to the physical needs of the people, they will not be able to care
for their spiritual needs.

    Acts 6:3 "Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of
honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint
over this business."

    Seven, as we have said before, means spiritually complete.  We see
 that these seven were to be men who were very close to God. They must
 be wise men to take care of the finances of the body of Christ. They
 must be honest and of good report. This is one of the Scriptures used
 when churches choose seven deacons to raise the finances of the
 church.  Many people want to be a deacon of the church until they
 learn that the deacons are really responsible for the financial needs
 of the church.

    Acts 6:4 "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to
the ministry of the word."

    The twelve apostles were not to be bothered with anything, except
the spiritual needs of the people.  Perhaps, that is one of the
problems in churches today.  We have made business men out of our
ministers.  They learn as much about the way to raise money, to have a
bus ministry, and to satisfy the I.R.S. as they do about the Word of
God.  They really should not be burdened with all of these
administration duties.  It takes too much of their time away from
prayer and study of the Word.
    Acts 6:5 "And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they
chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip,
and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a
proselyte of Antioch:"

    Of these seven, of course, Stephen was the most known to us. These
men were above reproach.  They were men of high character.  These men
would be fair in all their dealings.  Some believe that many of these
were Hellenist (Greek Jews), but I believe they were a cross section
of men of God, so that each one would be representing their own group.
Proselyte means a new comer.  In Hebrew, it meant stranger.  Philip
and Stephen are really the only two out of the list that the Bible
tells us anything else about.  These are like many deeply sincere
people in the church today who really work in the background and do
not feel the need to be recognized by others.

    Acts 6:6 "Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had
prayed, they laid [their] hands on them."

    This is just a ceremony to anoint these men to the job they are
to do.  They were installed formerly when the apostles laid hands on
them.

    Acts 6:7 "And the word of God increased; and the number of the
disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the
priests were obedient to the faith."

    We see, here, that, these apostles having their priorities
straight caused the Word of God to increase greatly.  A church is only
as powerful as the prayers that go up for it.  These apostles spent
much time in prayer and their ministry was powerful because of it.
Disciples, here, is the same as followers of Christ.  This strong
message of God's Word even convinced many of the priests and they
believed, also.

    Acts 6:8 "And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders
and miracles among the people."

    Notice, that Stephen was full of faith and power. This is saying
that the power of the Holy Spirit was so great in Stephen, that the
great wonders and miracles were a by-product of the power of God in
him.

    Acts 6:9 "Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is
called [the synagogue] of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and
Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with
Stephen."

    It seems that there was a large number of synagogues at this time.
These different nationalities of people had their own synagogue, and
that is why there are so many different names.  These Libertines were
Jews from Rome.  The Cyrenians were from North Africa.  Alexandrians
were Jewish people from Alexandria and were very large in number.
Then there were, also, some from Asia.  Whether they did not hear, or
whether they did not receive what they heard, is not explained.  They
just came against Stephen.

    Acts 6:10 "And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the
spirit by which he spake."

    His (Stephen's) message was with power of the Holy Spirit.
Stephen's message was so powerful that they could not overcome it.

    Acts 6:11 "Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him
speak blasphemous words against Moses, and [against] God."

    Suborn means to throw in stealthily or introduce by collusion.
They really had not heard Stephen blaspheme Moses or God, but said
that to get Stephen in trouble.

    Acts 6:12 "And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the
scribes, and came upon [him], and caught him, and brought [him] to the
council,"

    They really had lied about Stephen. Their accusations were untrue.
He gave no resistance, so they caught Stephen and brought him before
the religious rulers.

    Acts 6:13 "And set up false witnesses, which said, This man
ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and
the law:"

    This is much like the accusers of Jesus.  They have no reason to
accuse Stephen of anything.  The whole accusation was a lie.

    Acts 6:14 "For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth
shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses
delivered us."

    The law of Moses was the basis of worship in the temple and the
synagogues.  They, themselves, had twisted the law until it was hardly
recognizable.  They had taken Stephen's message and twisted it into
something ugly, instead of the beautiful message of promise that it
was.

    Acts 6:15 "And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on
him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel."

    One of the laws of Moses said not to be a false witness.  They
really were not concerned with Moses' law.  They were just jealous.
As they all looked at Stephen, they saw an inward light that made his
face as the face of an angel.  This should have told them who he was,
but they ignored this.  This light within him was the presence of the
risen Christ.




                           Acts 13 Questions


1.  When the number of disciples increased, what problem arose?
2.  Who was the murmuring about?
3.  What was the complaint?
4.  Who did the twelve apostles call to discuss the problem with?
5.  These twelve apostles' job was what?
6.  How many men were chosen to take care of these needs?
7.  What attributes did they have to have?
8.  What two things did these 12 give themselves to continually?
9.  What is one of the problems in churches today pertaining to the
    ministers?
10. What was Stephen full of?
11. What was the name of the only other man well known in the Bible?
12. What is a Hellenist?
13. What does proselyte mean?
14. When they set these seven before the apostles, what did the
    apostles do?
15. In verse 7, we learn that a great many of the _______ were
    obedient to the faith.
16. A church is only as powerful as what?
17. Disciples in verse 7 meant whom?
18. Stephen full of ______________________ and _________________, did
    great wonders.
19. What did these different names of synagogues mean?
20. What did they do with Stephen?
21. They were not able to resist what about Stephen?
22. What does suborn mean?
23. What did they say Stephen said about Moses?
24. Who did they stir up with these accusations?
25. What did the false witnesses say?
26. What lie did they tell in verse 14?
27. All that sat in the council saw Stephen's face as what?

                                 Notes