Act 6:6 | KingComments | STEP | To overcome the difficulties that had arisen, the apostles proposed to the brethren that they select seven men who could take over from them this task of distributing funds and resources. The apostles do not select the men themselves; they only give directions that the church should pay attention to in selecting the men suitable to carry out this task. The qualities described that such brothers must possess indicate the value of this service. The men eligible for this work must have a good testimony in their environment. Also, the Holy Spirit must be able to work freely in them and they must be able to perform their task with wisdom (cf. ). Although these are practical matters, the brothers who are going to take care of these matters must meet certain spiritual features. They are not practical brothers who are good at accounting, for example, but spiritually minded brothers who feel the material need of believers and provide for it with wisdom. The church is not an organization, not a system of rules, where one looks at how everything can be arranged in the best way. It is the Spirit of God Who in His wisdom knows all needs and can indicate exactly where and how they should be met, as is necessary for the glory of Christ. These men are chosen by the church ( ). This is different than with the gifts of grace in the church. These are not chosen by the church, but are given by the Lord and set in the church ( ). The church must accept them and acknowledge them as given to her by the Lord ( ). In short: the church is owned by the Lord and therefore He chooses and gives the gifts necessary for the building up of the church; the church as steward manages the money and she chooses who is responsible for its management. After the apostles have made their proposal, they also say what they will devote themselves to. They have said that the Word of God is neglected by them. Nevertheless, the first thing they want to do when they have their hands free again after handing over the care of the practical things, is not to preach the Word, but to pray. And not just once or on a special occasion, but they want to “devote” themselves to it. Then they say that they will also devote themselves “to the ministry of the Word”. It is remarkable that the apostles here mention prayer first and then the preaching as their work. Their struggle with the power of evil is firstly a struggle in prayer. In prayer, more than in any other service, we become aware of the power of God that is needed for any other service. It is important to first speak with God about people and only then to speak with people about God. The proposal of the apostles is widely supported by the crowd of believers. They choose seven men who meet the requirements. This means that the church has also worked spiritually and has been able to recognize these conditions with these men. Luke gives the names of the seven they choose. With Stephen he mentions as an extra characteristic that he is “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit”. This means that Stephen trusts in God completely, while the Holy Spirit can work in him without hindrance. As far as can be deduced from the names, all men chosen are Greeks, for they are all Greek names. This is certainly a loving concession to the group of believers that has complained. From that group there can no longer be any reproach of partiality. When the love of God fills the hearts, it overcomes selfishness and pettiness. Today’s church is governed based on democracy, with each group demanding its representation in every commission that is thought to be established. According to the well-known Bible interpreter F.W. Grant (1834-1902) the names have the following meaning: 1. Stephen – crown 2. Philip – lover of horses, runner 3. Prochorus – leader of praise 4. Nicanor – victor 5. Timon – honorable 6. Parmenas – permanent 7. Nicolas – conqueror of the people Two of these names stand out, which we will come across a few more times in this book: Stephen and Philip. These seven men are put before the apostles by the church. Before the apostles identify themselves with the choice of the church by the laying on of hands (cf. ; ; ), they pray. They will certainly have prayed for these men that the Lord will give them grace and wisdom to perform this important task. After all, it is about the welfare of the church. It seems that the multiplication or increase of the influence of the Word on the life of the believers, about which Luke speaks in , is a result of the election of the deacons. As a result, the apostles are again free to preach the Word, which is not without consequence. The spiritual life of the believers grows through it. And not only that. We also read that the number of disciples in Jerusalem is greatly increasing. So people also come to faith through the preaching of the Word. Among those people there is a large crowd of priests. They become obedient to the faith. This contrasts with their life up to that moment for it was dominated by obedience to the law. N.B. can be seen as a verse that connects two parts. We find such a verse also in . This gives a division of the book into six parts.

‏ Acts 6:6

The Seven Deacons Chosen

To overcome the difficulties that had arisen, the apostles proposed to the brethren that they select seven men who could take over from them this task of distributing funds and resources. The apostles do not select the men themselves; they only give directions that the church should pay attention to in selecting the men suitable to carry out this task. The qualities described that such brothers must possess indicate the value of this service. The men eligible for this work must have a good testimony in their environment. Also, the Holy Spirit must be able to work freely in them and they must be able to perform their task with wisdom (cf. 1Tim 3:8-13).

Although these are practical matters, the brothers who are going to take care of these matters must meet certain spiritual features. They are not practical brothers who are good at accounting, for example, but spiritually minded brothers who feel the material need of believers and provide for it with wisdom. The church is not an organization, not a system of rules, where one looks at how everything can be arranged in the best way. It is the Spirit of God Who in His wisdom knows all needs and can indicate exactly where and how they should be met, as is necessary for the glory of Christ.

These men are chosen by the church (2Cor 8:19). This is different than with the gifts of grace in the church. These are not chosen by the church, but are given by the Lord and set in the church (1Cor 12:28). The church must accept them and acknowledge them as given to her by the Lord (Eph 4:7 ; 11). In short: the church is owned by the Lord and therefore He chooses and gives the gifts necessary for the building up of the church; the church as steward manages the money and she chooses who is responsible for its management.

After the apostles have made their proposal, they also say what they will devote themselves to. They have said that the Word of God is neglected by them. Nevertheless, the first thing they want to do when they have their hands free again after handing over the care of the practical things, is not to preach the Word, but to pray. And not just once or on a special occasion, but they want to “devote” themselves to it. Then they say that they will also devote themselves “to the ministry of the Word”.

It is remarkable that the apostles here mention prayer first and then the preaching as their work. Their struggle with the power of evil is firstly a struggle in prayer. In prayer, more than in any other service, we become aware of the power of God that is needed for any other service. It is important to first speak with God about people and only then to speak with people about God.

The proposal of the apostles is widely supported by the crowd of believers. They choose seven men who meet the requirements. This means that the church has also worked spiritually and has been able to recognize these conditions with these men. Luke gives the names of the seven they choose. With Stephen he mentions as an extra characteristic that he is “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit”. This means that Stephen trusts in God completely, while the Holy Spirit can work in him without hindrance.

As far as can be deduced from the names, all men chosen are Greeks, for they are all Greek names. This is certainly a loving concession to the group of believers that has complained. From that group there can no longer be any reproach of partiality. When the love of God fills the hearts, it overcomes selfishness and pettiness. Today’s church is governed based on democracy, with each group demanding its representation in every commission that is thought to be established.

According to the well-known Bible interpreter F.W. Grant (1834-1902) the names have the following meaning:

1. Stephen – crown

2. Philip – lover of horses, runner

3. Prochorus – leader of praise

4. Nicanor – victor

5. Timon – honorable

6. Parmenas – permanent

7. Nicolas – conqueror of the people

Two of these names stand out, which we will come across a few more times in this book: Stephen and Philip.

These seven men are put before the apostles by the church. Before the apostles identify themselves with the choice of the church by the laying on of hands (cf. Lev 3:2; Num 27:18; Deu 34:9), they pray. They will certainly have prayed for these men that the Lord will give them grace and wisdom to perform this important task. After all, it is about the welfare of the church.

It seems that the multiplication or increase of the influence of the Word on the life of the believers, about which Luke speaks in Acts 6:7, is a result of the election of the deacons. As a result, the apostles are again free to preach the Word, which is not without consequence. The spiritual life of the believers grows through it. And not only that. We also read that the number of disciples in Jerusalem is greatly increasing. So people also come to faith through the preaching of the Word. Among those people there is a large crowd of priests. They become obedient to the faith. This contrasts with their life up to that moment for it was dominated by obedience to the law.

N.B. Acts 6:7 can be seen as a verse that connects two parts. We find such a verse also in Acts 9:31 ; Acts 12:24 ; Acts 16:5 ; Acts 19:20 ; Acts 28:30-31. This gives a division of the book into six parts.