ACC ~ Acts 6 v1 - 7

OVERVIEW:

This incident, which has its own interest for an understanding of church order (see Ammonius and Chrysostom on the imposition of hands and Chrysostom and Bede on the manner of choice), is intended by Luke to introduce Stephen, whose discourse and martyrdom are a key factor in his narrative. The pastoral implications of the passage are pointed out by Chrysostom, Didymus and Arator: difficulties in the community, the qualities of a leader, the relation between fruitfulness and suffering.

6:1 | The Hellenists and the Hebrews

DIFFICULTIES FROM WITHOUT AND WITHIN. CHRYSOSTOM: “And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.” It was not absolutely in those immediate days, for it is the custom of Scripture to speak of things that are about to happen as taking place in immediate succession. But by “Hellenists” I suppose he means those who spoke Greek, for these, being Hebrew, spoke Greek. Behold another trial! Observe how from within and from without there are warrings, from the very first! “Then,” it says, “the twelve called the multitude of the disciples to them, and said, It is reasonable that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.” Well said: for the needful must give precedence to the more needful. But see, how they take thought directly for these inferior matters and yet do not neglect the preaching. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 14.

UNEQUAL TREATMENT OF WIDOWS. BEDE: The cause of this grumbling was the fact that the Hebrews gave preferential treatment in the ministry to their own widows, inasmuch as they were more fully instructed, over the widows of the Hellenists. COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 6.1.

6:2 | Continuing to Preach the Word

NOURISHMENT OF THE APOSTLES’ WORDS. ARATOR: Oh, rich glory of the apostles’ speech, never to permit people to feel a famine of virtues! A distributed sum of money desires increase. The coin of language entrusted [to them] was displeasing when it remained alone. That passage shows that food for the mind is better for an uncultivated people than victuals spread through their limbs and that the richness of the heavenly word nourishes a broadly skilled mind. For of what advantage are the foods of bodily nourishment when the soul is hungry? ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 1.

6:3 | Seven Men of Good Repute

THE PEOPLE CHOOSE. CHRYSOSTOM: Now when Matthias was to be presented, it was said, “It must be someone who has been with us the whole time.” But not so here, since this was different. No longer did they put it to the lot, and although they could have made the choice themselves, moved as they were by the Spirit, they wanted the testimony of the people. Determining the number, ordaining the chosen and other such business rested with them, but the choice itself they entrusted to the people, so as not to give the appearance of showing favor. For even God entrusted it to Moses to choose as elders the men he knew. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 14.

LIKE COLUMNS OF THE ALTAR. BEDE: For this reason, the apostles or the successors of the apostles throughout all of the churches now decided upon seven deacons who would be of higher rank than the others and who would stand closer around the altar, like the columns of the altar. Their being seven in number is not without some symbolism. COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 6.3.

THE DIGNITY OF SERVICE. ARATOR: [L]est, however, the circumstance [waiting on tables] forsaken [by the apostles] be thought more lowly, the handling of it was entrusted to [seven] distinguished deacons, and that precious [service] possessed a heavenly number. ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 1.

6:5 | Full of Faith and of the Holy Spirit

HAVING FAITH AND FULL OF FAITH. DIDYMUS THE BLIND: Of those who have a share in virtue, some possess it perfectly and others imperfectly. Hence it is said of Stephen that he was selected because he was full of faith and the Spirit, as every believer is not full of faith. Someone upon whom Peter looked is said to “have faith” but not to be full of faith. CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.

WISDOM AS WELL AS FAITH. CHRYSOSTOM: For indeed great wisdom is needed in such ministries. Do not think, just because he was not entrusted with the word, that such a person does not need wisdom; on the contrary, he is in great need of it. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 14.

6:6 | Prayer and Laying on of Hands

GOD’S HAND ORDAINS. CHRYSOSTOM: They set them apart from the multitude. The people themselves drew them to the ordination, and the apostles did not lead. Notice how he does nothing excessive. He does not say how it was done but only that they were ordained through prayer. For this is the meaning of “ordination” (in Greek, “stretching out the hand”): the hand that is laid upon the head belongs to a person, but God effects it all, and it is his hand that touches the head of the ordained one, if he is duly ordained. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 14.

AN ANCIENT CUSTOM. AMMONIUS: It is to be noted that the ordination comes by the word of the leaders through their prayer and the imposition of their hands, and that the rank of deacons was given to deacons from the beginning, and that this custom has been observed until now. CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 6.6.

6:7 | The Word of God Increased

THE WORD INCREASES AFTER TRIALS. CHRYSOSTOM: In Jerusalem the number increased. It is wonderful that where Christ was slain, there the preaching increased! Not only did it not happen that some people were offended in the case of Ananias, but the awe became even greater; all the while some were flogged, others threatening, others tempting the Spirit and others murmuring. Notice, if you please, under what circumstances the number increased. It was after the trials—not before—that the number increased. And see how great is the mercy of God. The chief priests who were shouting such things, who were indignant, highly vexed, who said, “he saved others. He cannot save himself.” It was from the ranks of these that many [priests], it says, “were obedient to the faith.” HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 14.