Atos 6

Atos 6

Meyer - Acts 6:4 We will give ourselves continually to prayer. If ever there was a sacred work, it was that of caring for these poor widows; and yet the apostles felt that even such duties might interfere with the continual ministry of intercession. No doubt they always lived in the atmosphere and spirit of prayer, but they rightly felt that this was not enough either for them or their work. So they sought a division of labor, that while some specially served tables and ministered the alms of the church, others might be set free for steadfast continuance in prayer. This would keep the communication with the King on the throne clear and fresh, would draw down the power and blessing of the heavenly world, and be the means of procuring wisdom and strength for their great responsibilities. There are many courses of usefulness open to each of us in this world, and we must choose the one, not only most suited to our idiosyncrasies, but in which we can best serve our day and generation. It may be that in our incessant activities we are neglecting the one method by which we may contribute most largely to the coming of our Father’s kingdom. Notice that word give. It is as though the Spirit of prayer were seeking natures so pure, so devoted, that without hindrance He might form Himself into them. Give yourself to Him for this! “In that day,” said our Lord, speaking of the Day of Pentecost, “ye shall ask in my name.” It is only when we are full of the Holy Spirit that we can experience the true power to plead with God, and use the name of Christ so effectively as to receive the richest blessings for ourselves and others. Much prayer, much blessing; little prayer, little blessing; no prayer, no blessing. “The Word of God increased.” (Our Daily Homily) "I was lately in company of one of our older ministers," said a young minister the other day; "one who has laboured long and with much success in some of the most difficult fields of the Church. The object of my interview was to learn from him the secret of success with which it had pleased God to crown his ministry in positions and places where others had failed. Instead, however, of directly giving me the information I desired, he told me with great sorrow the reason why he had accomplished so little, and said with unaffected sadness, 'My young friend, the mistake of my life has been that I have not prayed more. I fell into the error of most ministers — I studied and preached. I worked and worried too much, and I prayed too little. Could I live my life over again, I would be more with God and less with men. I see it all now — what wasted years of unrest I have passed, how much of my life was my own doing, and how little of God has been in my active ministry! I can now, in the evening of my days, only ask God to forgive my shortcomings, and to aid me in spending my few remaining years differently from the imperfect way in which I have served my Master." Acts 6:5 The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. KJV Acts 6:5 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: The statement found approval with the whole congregation Acts 15:22; Ge 41:37; Pr 15:1,23; 25:11,12 Stephen Acts 6:3,8,10; 7:1-60; 8:1,2; 11:24; Micah 3:8 Philip Acts 8:5-13,26-40; 21:8 Nicolas Revelation 2:6,15 Acts 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN These seven remind me of an American western entitled "The Magnificent Seven." The statement (logos) found approval with the whole congregation - Found approval is the Greek verb aresko which means to be pleasing and is first in the Greek for emphasis. The apostles were not dictators but leaders here they led by presentation of the plan to the entire congregation. We do not know if they had a voice vote or ballots, but regardless of the method, the results were unanimous (whole congregation). And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit - The order of the seven is significant because the first 2 men played significant roles in the spread of the Gospel in Acts 7 (Stephen) and Acts 8 (Philip). It is notable that Stephen is characterized as a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, because one of the criteria of all seven men was that they be full of the Spirit (Acts 6:3). Paul Apple writes "Sadly, too many of us are full of ourselves." (Wish he hadn't said that! I have a big mirror in my bathroom!) And Philip ("lover of horses") - See description of his ministry in Acts 8:5-40+. Two missionary journeys are recorded in Acts 8:5-13 and Acts 8:26-40. Philip is the only man specifically called an evangelist in Acts - "Philip the evangelist" (Acts 21:8). Philip was instrumental in taking the Gospel to Samaria ("you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria" - Acts 1:8+) (See map of expansion of the early church) Notice how God used these two table waiters - Stephen was the first martyr for the faith and Philip was the first missionary for the faith! None of us know what God might do with us when we are obedient to do exactly what He has set before us at a given time. To avoid doing what He obviously leads us to do could mean (and probably will mean) we will miss out on the privilege of doing some other work for Him. If God is calling to wait on tables, then dear Spirit filled believer, wait on tables! These two men remind me of God's words in Jeremiah 45:5 "seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not." Jesus said "he who is least among you, this is the one who is great." (Lk 9:48). Chose (1586)(eklego from ek = out, out of, out from + légo = select, choose) (see also eklektos) means literally to select out, single out or choose out of. The idea in eklego speaks of the sizable number from which the selection is made. It implies the taking of a smaller number out of a larger. For example, in secular use, Virgil's Eclogues (from eklego) are short, selected excerpts taken from a more larger collection of poems. Why is this criterion so important? Who are you more likely to know intimately -- a man with whom you have lived life or a man coming in to interview for a position? Stephen, a man full … of the Holy Ghost - Can I see the dew of heaven as it falls on a summer evening? I cannot. It comes down softly and gently, noiselessly and imperceptibly. But when I go forth in the morning after a cloudless night, and see every leaf sparkling with moisture, and feel every blade of grass damp and wet, I say at once, “There has been a dew.” Just so it is with the presence of the Spirit in the soul. (J C Ryle) Stephen (4736)(stephanos from stepho = to encircle, twine or wreathe) means crown. It was "the victor's crown," a symbol of triumph in the Grecian athletic games. How fitting that it is the name of this godly saint who paid the highest price when he was stoned for speaking the truth of the Gospel! The related word is stephanos (4735) was a wreath made of foliage or designed to resemble foliage and worn by one of high status or held in high regard. The stephanos was literally an adornment worn around the head as a crown of victory in the Greek athletic games, this reward being given to the runner who crossed the goal first, to the disc thrower with the longest toss, etc. Apart from recognition of athletes and winners of various kinds of competitions, in the Greco-Roman world, the awarding of a crown or wreath signified appreciation for exceptional contributions to the state or groups within it. The recipients were usually public officials or civic-minded persons serving at their own expense. Here is a summary of crowns for believers, all described by the same Greek word stephanos. CROWN VERSE DESCRIPTION Stephanos 1 Cor 9:25+ Incorruptible Crown Stephanos 2 Ti 4:8+ Crown of Righteousness Stephanos 1 Th 2:19+ Crown of Rejoicing Stephanos James 1:12+, Rev 2:10+ Crown of life Stephanos 1 Peter 5:4+ Crown of glory Stephanos - 7x in 7v - Acts 6:5; Acts 6:8; Acts 6:9; Acts 7:59; Acts 8:2; Acts 11:19; Acts 22:20 Related Resources: What is the verse about casting our crowns before the feet of Jesus? What are the five heavenly crowns that believers can receive in Heaven? Full (abounding) (4134)(pleres from pleos = full, pletho = to fill) means filled up as opposed to empty (as of a hollow vessel - Mt 14:20, 15:37, Mk 6:43). Of a surface, covering every part (leprosy in Lk 5:12). Figuratively, of one full of, filled with, abounding in, thoroughly endowed with (Lk 4:1 full of the Holy Spirit, Acts 9:36 abounding in deeds, Stephen full of grace and power Acts 6:8) Pleres is repeatedly associated with the Holy Spirit - Lk 4:1, Acts 6:3, 5, 7:55, 11:24. Clearly the state of being filled with the Spirit was of great import in the life of Jesus and the lives of the disciples in the Book of Acts. When pleres is used in this figurative sense, it conveys something more than simply "filling up to the brim" so to speak. It also conveys the truth that what fills a person, controls the person. For example, notice what filled Elymas the magician (Acts 13:8) in Acts 13:10 - all deceit and fraud. And what was the "effect?" He made "crooked the straight ways of the Lord." (Acts 13:10). As an aside notice how Paul was "enabled" to confront this man who seems in essence to be enabled or to be even demonically controlled and empowered ("you son of the devil" Acts 13:10)? "Paul, filled with (controlled by, enabled by) the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze upon him." (Acts 13:9). The upshot is that to be filled with the Spirit is to be controlled by the Spirit and thus supernaturally empowered or enabled to accomplish what cannot be accomplished naturally (by relying on my human "power"). This is why Eph 5:18+ is so critical to the Christian life, for there is simply no other way to live this "Christ life," this supernatural life, then the same way Jesus as a Man lived it--filled with the Holy Spirit! (Luke 4:1, 14+). Prochorus ("before the dance"), Nicanor ("conqueror"), Timon ("honoring"), Parmenas ("steadfast") and Nicolas ("victor over the people"), a proselyte from Antioch - Most commentators feel that all seven names are Greek, and thus are Hellenistic Jews chosen to solve the problem the Hellenistic members had raised (Acts 6:1). However, this is not absolute as some Hebraic Jews did have Greek names. Other than the meaning of their names (see parentheses above) we know nothing of these 5 men because they are not mentioned again in the NT. What we do know about these seven men is that all met the high qualifications in Acts 6:3 which in itself is quite a testimony. Antioch (literally "an Antiochian" an inhabitant of Antioch) - Wikipedia. See map of Antioch as the launching site for Paul's first missionary journey. Antioch - 19x in 18v in the NT Acts 6:5; Acts 11:19; Acts 11:20; Acts 11:22; Acts 11:26; Acts 11:27; Acts 13:1; Acts 13:14; Acts 14:19; Acts 14:21; Acts 14:26; Acts 15:22; Acts 15:23; Acts 15:30; Acts 15:35; Acts 18:22; Gal. 2:11; 2 Tim. 3:11 Nicolas was obviously a Gentile who converted from paganism to Judaism and then became a believer in Jesus. Some (e.g., Early Church Fathers) associate Nicolas with the Nicolatians mentioned in Revelation 2:6, 15+ but this is by no means definitive as there is absolutely no evidence to link this godly man Nicolas with this ungodly heretical group! Nicolaitanism (see also Wikipedia) probably represents a movement present in the churches at Ephesus and at Pergamos to subject the people of God to one or more powerful leaders. The term is derived from nikao (Gk.), "to conquer," and laos (Gk.), "people," hence, "people conquerors." Very plausibly, the Nicolaitan movement marks the beginning of a form of priesthood in the church. On the other hand, this group has also been viewed as representing those who have compromised with the world through the practices of immorality and idolatry. Though some tradition has identified them as followers of the Nicolas of Acts 6:5, one of the first seven deacons (ED: NOTE THEY ARE ACTUALLY NEVER CALLED DEACONS IN ACTS 6) in the early church at Jerusalem, evidence for this identification is not extensive. (Believers Study Bible) Proselyte (4339) (proselutos from proserchomai to come near to join) describes a stranger, foreigner, one who comes from his own people to another. In the NT proselutos is a technical term for a Gentile who has come over to Judaism usually won over from paganism through Jewish missionary efforts and then by submitting to c circumcision (males), self-baptism before witnesses (The Talmud adds that Gentile conversion must be supervised by three Jews - The Talmud of Babylonia) and offering of a sacrifice. Related terms are those reverencing God (Acts 13:43, 50; 16:14; 17:4, 17; 18:7) or those fearing God (Acts 10:2; 13:16, 26).