BRUCE C WEARNE looks at how the apostles are shown in Acts 6 moving to ensure the new community of believers was functioning well to ensure all were looked after...
Now at that time when the number of disciples was increasing greatly, a complaint arose among the Greek-speaking group against those who were Hebrew-speaking, having to do with the neglect of their widows in the regular distribution. And the 12 then summoned the entire body of the disciples to say, “It would not be the right thing for us to give up proclaiming the word of God to serve at tables. Therefore, friends, what we propose is this: select from among you seven of good repute, those full of the Spirit and of wisdom, and we will appoint them to this task. As for ourselves, we will be devoted wholly to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And this indeed pleased the whole throng, and so saying they chose Stephen, such a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus a proselyte from Antioch. These then were set before the apostles and in prayer their hands were laid upon them. And the word of God spread with the number of the disciples in Jerusalem multiplying greatly, with a great many priests embracing the faith. (Acts6:1-7/transliteration by Bruce C Wearne)
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SHARING THE LOAD: The apostles appointed a group to oversee the “serving at tables” to allow them to concentrate on their work. PICTURE: Luca Baroncini/www.freeimages.com
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The Jerusalem synagogue of Jesus’ disciples, led by the apostles, found themselves empowered and encouraged by the Holy Spirit. Their number was growing. Their life together, internally and externally, was blooming. It had had to confront various dangers, not only from the religious leaders and the council, but also from the deceit of Ananias and Sapphira.
Now, after the council had decided to leave the apostles alone, the apostles were able to continue their work teaching the disciples. That was the indispensable service they had been commanded to do, and now were busy with in the power of the Holy Spirit. But there was also disquiet.
Luke tells us that as the community of believers grew they did not leave their ethnic backgrounds behind. At Pentecost, God’s Spirit had acted to bring believers together – Jews from all over the world heard God’s message in their own tongues. Now however, the Greek-born believers – women whose Jewish husbands had died – were being neglected in the distribution of resources and food. A proper share was not getting to the widows in their family circles. So this matter was raised with the apostles.
The apostles decided they had to keep their focus upon the work Jesus had given to them. Management and oversight of the distribution – the “serving at tables” – would be given to a group chosen by the congregation. And so, Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and the proselyte Nicolaus were given this task.
This was another Philip; not the apostle of the same name. Luke tells us later that both Stephen and Philip became known for their preaching, as did Philip’s prophetic daughters (Acts 8:9-13). So, when the congregation chose this group to manage food distribution, they were not suggesting that the apostles were the only ones fitted to preach.
This episode tells us that the apostles, schooled by Jesus Himself, had teaching work which no-one else could do. He had trained them to “prepare the soil.” Ever since then, all the other disciples have been part of the work broadcasting the seed. It is important to keep that in view, lest we too quickly assume that the apostles were neglecting Jesus’ teaching about being a servant. Jesus had indeed served them at table.
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