1 AND in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

1And in those dayes when the number of the Disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrewes, because their widowes were neglected in the daily ministration.

2Then the twelue called the multitude of the disciples vnto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leaue the word of God, and serue tables.

3Wherefore brethren, looke ye out among you seuen men of honest report, full of the holy Ghost, and wisedome, whom we may appoint ouer this businesse.

4But we will giue our selues continually to prayer, and to the ministerie of the word.

5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Steuen, a man full of faith and of the holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Permenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch.

6Whom they set before the Apostles: and when they had praied, they layd their hands on them.

7And the word of God encreased, and the number of the Disciples multiplied in Hierusalem greatly, and a great company of the Priests were obedient to the faith.

8And Steuen full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

9 Then there arose certaine of the Synagogue, which is called the Synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia, and of Asia, disputing with Steuen.

10And they were not able to resist the wisedome and the spirit by which he spake.

11Then they suborned men which said, We haue heard him speake blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.

12And they stirred vp the people, and the Elders, and the Scribes, and came vpon him, and caught him, and brought him to the Councell,

13And set vp false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speake blasphemous words against this holy place, and the Law.

14For we haue heard him say, that this Iesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, & shall change the Customes which Moses deliuered vs.

15And all that sate in the Councell, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had bene the face of an Angel.

 

1 At that time, as the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, "It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. 3 Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, 4 whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." 5 The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. 7 The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith. 8 Now Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and debated with Stephen, 10 but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke. 11 Then they instigated some men to say, "We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God." 12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, accosted him, seized him, and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13 They presented false witnesses who testified, "This man never stops saying things against (this) holy place and the law. 14 For we have heard him claim that this Jesus the Nazorean will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us." 15 All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.  

v1. Maybe 10,000 believers, plus or minus women and children. The Hellenist Jews from other countries spoke their own language and Greek. National Jews spoke Aramaic and Greek and discriminated against the others. (illus. Louisiana lady spoke of our “strange accent”). Unfortunately, by design or chance, this carried over in the church. Compare churches that don’t accept blacks. Imagine 12 men handing out the common dole of food or funds to a city the size of Creston daily.
v2. It is embarrassing to discuss the number of pastors violating this principal by trying to run everything in the church instead of allowing those properly responsible to do it. Also those over involved in tinkering with everyone’s cars or other tasks when not financially or spiritually needed.
v3. Seven men by Jewish tradition managed public affairs. Much as we Baptists hate to admit it, these men are nowhere in Scripture called “Deacons”, though the root word implies service and deacons serve. In Acts 21:8 they are still called “the seven”. These held a temporary position for the specific period of need. Temporary because of the communal nature at Jerusalem. They however illustrate the role and function of later deacons.
v4. The primary function of pastors recognized.
v5. All these men have Greek names, but many Jews had both. It was wise to put at least some Greeks in charge of their own group which had been slighted. Only Stephen and Philip are mentioned again. Nicholas was even a Gentile convert. Note that these men were already full of the Spirit, it was not the result of laying on of hands in v 6. Any Christian fully surrendered to the Lord is filled with the Spirit.
v6. a. Apostles gave the qualifications, v3
(1)Full of Holy Spirit    (2) & wisdom    (3) Of good reputation
b. Congregation made the choice
c. Apostles laid on hands, ordaining them for service
v7. Action was effective and church continued growth. Many priests believed and joined, ruining their careers. Consider tradition: Nicodemus (Ben Gurion) was a brother of Josephus and one of the three richest men in Jerusalem. After being baptized by Peter he was cast out of the Sanhedrin for his beliefs. In the persecutions He lost all, and his daughter was seen gathering barley corn from horse dung. 
Joseph of Arimathaea was one of the three richest Jews in Jerusalem, but after persecution, his daughter was seen picking up barley corn from behind the horses.
v8. Stephen’s miracles and influence incurred wrath of Judaism. In addition to his daily duties, preached in Libertine synagogue.
v9. Libertines, freed slaves, had their own synagogue. (Remember, there had to be at least ten Jewish men to have a synagogue. In some cases ten men were hired to be there each Sabbath.) Four areas, point of Africa southwest of Crete, Alexandria in Egypt, western Asia (near Ephesus) and Cilicia (Tarsus area) in opposition.
v10. Stephen a fluent debater empowered by the Holy Spirit.
v11-14.  As with Jesus, false witnesses misunderstood and misrepresented what he stated. He probably had mentioned before the same Council, coming destruction of Jerusalem and the law fulfilled in Christ.
15. A pure, holy look, or possibly his face shone as Moses did.