The First Deacons
Acts 6:1-7
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.
Introduction:
In this portion of Luke’s narrative we are confronted
with an internal complication that had the potential:
1) to sidetrack the Apostles from their ministry in the
Word and prayer, and also,
2) to split the early Church in Jerusalem along ethnic
lines.
Overview/Introduction of Chapter 6:
Patterns:
1. miracles → witness
2. preaching to the Jews → Gospel rejected by the Jews → preaching to the Gentiles
3. Jewish opposition to the Gospel and
persecution of the Christians →
the spread of the Christians and the Gospel
Significant events - Between the
first two “Pentecosts” (Jewish in Acts 2, and Samaritan in Acts 8), and
following the birth of the Church in Acts 2
Significant persons - Peter is
at the forefront here, later Paul’s ministry will be the focus
Geographical movement - still in
Jerusalem (Acts 1:8), soon to move to Judea and Samaria prior to the journeys
to “the ends of the earth”
Outline:
I. The Need for the First Deacons (6:1)
II. The Qualifications of the First
Deacons (6:2-4)
III. The Installation of the First Deacons
(6:5-6)
IV. The Blessings of the First Deacons
(6:7)
Transition: Gospel success in this fallen world occurs in
the midst of a spiritual battleground.
In this warfare attacks come both from without, and from within the
Church. This is true both on this
corporate level and on a personal level so the lessons learned from the account
of this incident may have broader applications than may be assumed from a
cursory reading. Up to this point in the
narrative Luke has recorded in this book opposition or resistance to the work
of the Apostles in bearing testimony to the risen and ascended Messiah, and the
consequent growth of the Church has come primarily from without. An exception in chapter five in the incident
of Ananias and Sapphira actually includes one of only two mentions of Satanic
opposition in the book (the other being 26:18).
I. The Need
for the First Deacons (6:1)
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.
1. The
Multiplication of the Disciples -
The
Setting: The Rapid Growth of the
Early Church
And
in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied
2. The
Murmuring of the Gentiles -
The
Problem: The Discrimination
Complaint along Ethnic Lines
there
arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews
3. The
Ministration to the Widows -
The
Occasion: The Daily Distribution to
Elect Widows
because
their widows were neglected in the daily ministration
II. The Qualifications
of the First Deacons (6:2-4)
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.
1. Men With a Reputation
for Honesty (6:3b)
men
of honest report
2. Men With a Fullness
of the Holy Spirit and Wisdom (6:3c)
full
of the Holy Ghost and wisdom
Intermezzo: Were these seven men the first Deacons?
Note: The term is used 29 times in the New
Testament. In all but three instances
where it refers to the office of a Deacon (Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:8, 12) it bears
the normal usage in context of “servant” or “messenger”.
Objection:
“Often the present passage is seen to be the initiation
of the diaconate. The word “deacon” (diakonos)
never occurs in the passage. The word “ministry” (diakonia) does occur several times, but it is applied to both the
ministry of the daily distribution (v. 2) and the ministry of the word, the
apostolic witness (v. 4). In fact, the word “deacon” never occurs in Acts. The
office generally referred to is “elder” (Acts 11:30; 14:23, et passim). If one
is inclined nevertheless to see the diaconate in this passage, that person
should take a cue from Stephen and Philip. In the rest of Acts, nothing is made
of their administrative duties. What one finds them doing is bearing their
witness, even to martyrdom.”
Source: J. B. Polhill,
(1995). Vol. 26: Acts. The New American Commentary (182–183). Nashville:
Broadman & Holman Publishers.
Views:
“Were these the first deacons? Which church office is in
view here? Three answers are given to these questions.
(1) Some say these were the first deacons. Several
factors are used to support this viewpoint. First, the office of deacon is
assumed in Paul’s letters (cf. Phil. 1:1). If Acts 6:1–6 is not an account of
their beginning, it is argued, when and where did deacons originate? Second,
several words related to deacon (diakonos)
are found here: “distribution” (lit., “service”) in verse 1 is diakonia, and “to wait” in verse 2 is diakonein. However, these men were never
called “deacons” (diakonoi) as such.
Much later they were called “the Seven” (21:8). Furthermore, the words “distribution”
and “wait” do not seem to have a technical sense here. These words in the Greek
New Testament are commonly used in a nonspecialized sense.
(2) Others hold that these were precursors to the office
of elder. This is not a common interpretation, but it gains its support from
11:30, which refers to relief money being given to the elders. If deacons
handled these funds earlier (chap. 6), it is argued, they must have later
become the elders (chap. 11). However, the office of elder has its origin in the
Jewish synagogue.
(3) A third view is that these seven men held a temporary
position for the purpose of meeting a specific need. This seems to be the best
approach for a couple of reasons. First, these men were chosen for a particular
task, not an overall one. Second, they were in a temporary responsibility
because of the communal nature of the church at Jerusalem. Even so, these men
do illustrate the role and function of the office of deacons.”
Source: S. D. Toussaint, (1985). Acts. In J. F.
Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The
Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (J. F. Walvoord
& R. B. Zuck, Ed.) (Ac 6:6). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
See also
especially:
Hezekiah Harvey, The
Church: Its Polity and Ordinances (Rochester, NY: Backus Book Publishers,
n.d.; 1982 reprint of 1879 original by American Baptist Publication Society,
Philadelphia), pp. 40-42, 79-81. The
1903 reprint by the American Baptist Publication Society of the 1879 original
is available either as a full "preview" online or as a free eBook
including downloadable EPUB and PDF file formats on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=Q9RLAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Hezekiah+Harvey&hl=en&sa=X&ei=TwGdULL6J7O10AGSo4DIAQ&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAQ [accessed 6 OCT 2013].
Edward T. Hiscox, The
New Directory for Baptist Churches (Philadelphia: The Judson Press, 1894),
pp. 109-116. The 1902 reprint by the
American Baptist Publication Society of the 1894 original is available either
as a full "preview" online or as a free eBook including downloadable
EPUB and PDF file formats on Google Books
at http://books.google.com/books?id=rQZFAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed 6 OCT 2013].
Paul R. Jackson, The
Doctrine and Administration of the Church, rev. ed. (Schaumburg, IL:
Regular Baptist Press, 1980, 1968), pp. 49-51.
Benjamin L. Merkle,
40 Questions About Elders and Deacons (Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic
& Professional, 2008), pp. 227-248.
III. The Installation
of the First Deacons (6:5-6)
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: 6 Whom they set before
the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
1. This Instatallation
Finalized a Congregational Decision (6:5-6a)
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
Cp. 6:3
See especially Hezekiah Harvey, The Church: Its Polity and
Ordinances (Rochester, NY: Backus Book Publishers, n.d.; 1982 reprint of
1879 original by American Baptist Publication Society, Philadelphia), pp.
40-42, 79-81. The 1903 reprint by the
American Baptist Publication Society of the 1879 original is available either
as a full "preview" online or as a free eBook including downloadable
EPUB and PDF file formats on Google Books
at http://books.google.com/books?id=Q9RLAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Hezekiah+Harvey&hl=en&sa=X&ei=TwGdULL6J7O10AGSo4DIAQ&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAQ [accessed 6 OCT 2013].
2. This Instatallation
Resulted from a Unanimous Agreement (6:5a)
And
the saying pleased the whole multitude
3. This Instatallation
Involved an Apostolic Invocation (6:6)
Whom
they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands
on them
4. This Instatallation
Included a Prayerful Consideration (6:6b)
and
when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them
IV. The Blessings
of the First Deacons (6:7)
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.
There were three immediate results from the installation
and early ministry of the first deacons:
1. The Increase
of the Word of God - Ministry Opportunities
And
the word of God increased
2. The Multiplication of the People of God - Church
Growth
and
the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly
3. The
Additions from the Levites of God - Significant
Conversions
and
a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith
“The verbs “grew” (auxanō)
and “multiplied” (plēthynō) are used
in Acts 7:17 with the single subject of the people of Israel in Egypt, using
wording based on Exod. 1:7 (cf. 1:20). In Acts 12:24 the same phrase is used
with reference to the word of God in connection with the growth and spread of
the Christian mission (cf. 19:20, where ischyō
is used rather than plēthynō). Here
the two verbs are given separate subjects: “the word of God grew and the number
of disciples multiplied,” and this indicates more clearly what Luke means in
12:24; 19:20. Thus there is some parallel between the growth of the people of
God at the time of the exodus and the growth of the number of disciples at the
time of the new exodus; the new factor in the latter case is the powerful
effects of the preaching.”
Source: Beale, G. K., & Carson, D. A. (2007). Commentary on the New Testament use of the
Old Testament (555). Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, UK: Baker Academic;
Apollos.
Conclusion:
The ascended Christ as the Head of the Church has
provided resources for His Bride to deal with all exigencies and to meet all of
her needs just as He has done so for each one of his Elect individually!
[Sermon preached 6
OCT 2013 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown,
PA.]
Resources:
G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson, eds., Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old
Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), pp. 513-606.
Darrell L. Bock, Acts, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, eds. Robert W.
Yarbrough and Robert H. Stein (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007)
F. F. Bruce, The
Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text with Introduction and Commentary, 2nd
ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1951, 1952).
Hezekiah Harvey, The
Church: Its Polity and Ordinances (Rochester, NY: Backus Book Publishers,
n.d.; 1982 reprint of 1879 original by American Baptist Publication Society,
Philadelphia), pp. 40-42, 79-81. The
1903 reprint by the American Baptist Publication Society of the 1879 original
is available either as a full "preview" online or as a free eBook
including downloadable EPUB and PDF file formats on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=Q9RLAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Hezekiah+Harvey&hl=en&sa=X&ei=TwGdULL6J7O10AGSo4DIAQ&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAQ [accessed 6 OCT 2013].
Edward T. Hiscox, The
New Directory for Baptist Churches (Philadelphia: The Judson Press, 1894),
pp. 109-116. The 1902 reprint by the
American Baptist Publication Society of the 1894 original is available either
as a full "preview" online or as a free eBook including downloadable
EPUB and PDF file formats on Google Books
at http://books.google.com/books?id=rQZFAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed 6 OCT 2013].
Paul R. Jackson, The
Doctrine and Administration of the Church, rev. ed. (Schaumburg, IL:
Regular Baptist Press, 1980, 1968), pp. 49-51.
I. Howard Marshall, Acts: An Introduction And
Commentary, Vol. 5 in Tyndale New
Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. Leon Morris (Downers Grove, IL:
InterVarsity Press, 1980; 2008 reprint).
Benjamin L. Merkle,
40 Questions About Elders and Deacons (Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic
& Professional, 2008), pp. 227-248.
David G. Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, The Pillar New Testament Commentaries,
gen. ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009).
John B. Polhill, Acts, Vol. 26 in The New American Commentary, gen. ed.
David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Publishers, 1992).
Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts, Vol. 5 in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New
Testament, gen. ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012).
S. D. Toussaint, “Acts”,
in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures eds. J.
F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985).
William H. Willimon, Acts, in Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching,
series ed. James Luther Mays, New Testament ed. Paul J. Achtemeier (Louisville,
KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010).
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