Introduction
The church rapidly grew from a group of 120 (1:15) > 10,000+ within Jerusalem. Before it spread beyond (8:1), leadership and structure were established.
Read Acts 6:1-7
The growth of the church is a good thing, but it brings new challenges. Prior to this passage, the church had withstood persecution and moral corruption. Now, we see how they fight the threat of division.
The selection of these seven men will prove to be instrumental in the spread of the gospel beyond Jerusalem (fulfilling 1:8).
As the church grows, so does its need for leadership and structure.
The Complaint (1)
Despite the judgment of Ananias and Sapphira and the persecution of the Sanhedrin, the church grew > growing pains.
The Hellenists complained that their widows were being slighted in the “distribution” (2:44-47; 4:32-37).
“Complaint” = Israel’s wilderness murmuring (LXX), which likely implies negative connotations regarding their attitudes.
Two Kinds of Tension:
- Ethnic
- Hellenists = Greek-speaking Jews returned from diaspora (10-20% of the population). Immigrants.
- Hebrews = Hebrew/Aramaic-speaking natives of Palestine.
- Paul rebuked Peter for refusing to eat with Gentiles (Gal. 2:11-14).
- Administrative
Organization, misplaced names, loosely defined qualifications, etc.
Similar tensions exist in our church.
These tensions are common enough, but how are they dealt with?
The Solution (2-4)
A congregational meeting to choose seven qualified candidates for the work.
Was serving tables beneath the apostles’ calling?
- Qualifications:
- Reputation
- Full of the Spirit
- Full of wisdom.
- Calling, not preference.
The complaint appears to be valid since no challenge.
Role of the “distribution” not minimized, sought to give greater attention. But their calling was primarily prayer and preaching.
From this, the PCA tasks the congregation with election of officers (Elders and Deacons).
- Elder = authority (doctrine & discipline)
- Deacon = service (finances & mercy)
Paul emphasizes prayer (1 Tim. 2) and preaching (2 Tim. 4:2). Administration and mercy must be handled by others.
The solution involves the selection of qualified servants.
The Selection (5-6)
The whole church was in agreement that the best use of the apostles’ time was praying and preaching.
Commissioning for official role (Num. 27:18, 23). The laying on of hands was symbolic of his authority.
Because of the close connection between “diakonein” (to serve) and “diakonos” (servant) many, myself included, see these men as the first ordained deacons.
All seven men had Greek names indicating an intentional selection of leaders from the portion of the church that raised the complaint.
- Qualifications were spiritual, not financial (cf. 1 Tim. 3:8-12).
- The selection was plural, not singular.
With the seven servants in place, the church continued to grow.
The Result (7)
Because the apostles did not neglect the preaching of the word of God, it increased. Adding leadership and structure to the church for equipping and edification does not inhibit evangelism, but it serves to encourage and support it.
The obedient priests were probably not a part of the Sanhedrin, but the common priests (est. 18,000).
If our desire is to see the word of God and the number of disciples increasing—and it should be—then we must find ways to guard the pastor’s time to focus on praying and preaching. It means I personally need to keep this text in mind whenever I think about adding another event to our calendar.
Conclusion
The apostles upheld the primacy of their own calling as ministers of the word and invited others to take up a new calling that involved serving widows. The roles of both the apostles and deacons were affirmed.
Jesus Christ is the subject of our preaching, the One who grants access to the Father in our prayers, the source of the Church’s spiritual authority, as well as the prime example of a qualified servant (Phil. 2:5-11). As members of his body, we serve one another by taking up this important task of choosing qualified men to lead at Grace Clovis.