Ep. 274. Acts 6 | Seven Chosen

EPISODE 274

SEVEN CHOSEN: ACTS 6

There are enough names and terms in the Bible that we struggle with on a regular basis when we first come to the Scripture; let "Hellenist" no longer be one of them. These are the Greek speaking Jews. Where did these Greek-speaking Jews originate? The answer is an easy one: Second Kings 17 when the Assyrians took the Israelites into captivity, and in 2 Kings 25, when the people of Judah were taken into captivity in Babylon. The two nations, formerly one, of God's people were scattered abroad, and then they made lives for themselves. Many of them continued their religious practices, but they stayed among the nations rather than return to their homeland. These are the people gathered together for the Feast in Acts 2, listening to Peter and the other Apostles preaching and teaching in their own languages. Stephen was one of these Greek speakers.

The men set aside in this chapter to care for the widows in the distribution of food seem to be the first deacons. I don't know that this was meant to be a prescription for modern-day churches on how to appoint deacons, but neither do I think it is a bad idea. See where the need is within the body and find people willing to meet that need. I could happily do away with the two-year term limit or the committees, but I understand there needs to be some sort of order. I would say that if we are going to appoint deacons within the body, we must follow the prescriptions Paul laid out in 1 Timothy chapter three, but we will get there in due time.

ADDITIONAL READING: NONE