Acts, Chapter 6
© Copyright 2007 Darroll Evans, all
rights reserved
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
While the Church was growing,
some in the Church began to complain about the distribution of the
materials. Hellenistic Jews thought Judean
Jews were getting more that they were.
That brings me to the fact
that there are few, if any, Pastors who are good administrators. They don’t seem to be able to chew gum and
march at the same time.
That inability to go back to
a biblical system has proved disastrous to many Churches. It has led to what I call “Fascist churches.”
From the Merriam-Webster online Dictionary
Fascism:
1: a political philosophy, movement,
or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the
individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a
dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible
suppression of opposition
2: a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control
Many churches today have adopted a fascist form of government, in
which the church appointed
pastor assumes all control with no input from the congregation. Under that church government, Acts 6:1-3 has been torn from the Bible
and treated as if it does not exist. Those churches
that govern without congregational input are not Christian, they are not Churches!
In those churches, the church
appointed pastors scream for more and more money with the seeming intent of
getting all the funds the available to the congregation and spending those
funds on his/her personal whims.
To those of you that attend
congregational governed Churches
the notion of Church
dictatorship may seem odd. However, the fascist church is growing in popularity among those who have the
title “pastor” without God’s anointing to be a Pastor.
Among independent Charismatic
churches fascism is rampant!
One such church in
In
It may be that the
“fellowship” in which that church
operates is grounded in fascism!
If you belong to a church that denies input from
the congregation: Run, do not walk to the nearest exit. Leave and don’t look
back! If the church you attend does not openly publish a financial report
and offer open financial records, leave that less than honest church! Only criminals fear the light!
Fascist churches exalt the church
above THE Christ. We outside of the
Roman Catholic denomination may often look down on the Pope for declaring
himself to be “God’s Vicar on Earth.” But,
be honest with yourself, many preachers of a false gospel have also declared
themselves to be the Popes of their individual churches, and God has no part in
their human aspirations and ambitions!
One such fake pastor recently
told “his” congregation that they could not be included in the gathering of the
saints (the rapture) unless they tithed to “his” church. He told them
that they could not be blessed unless they tithed to “his” church. He told them
that he did not want to be blameless before God, instead he wanted to be
blessed and they could not be blessed unless they tithed to “his” church! He told that
congregation that if they did not tithe they were not welcome. His message is simple. “Give me all your money!” That is not Christianity! It is con-man fascist cultism!
If you pay money to a fascist
church that refuses to be accountable for how it spends your offering, you are
throwing your money into a religious dark hole!
You are a steward of how you deal with what God has provided! Your Pastor is not a steward of what God has
given to you.
Pastors are no more Priests
of God than any other Christian! Christianity is not an Old Testament
society! It is the New Testament body of
Christ, the
Unfortunately, that fascist
message is preached from several non-Christian pulpits today!
If you attend a fascist church, leave immediately! Find a Christian Church where Christ is preached.
The Church of Jesus Christ has only one Lord, only one head, and
that is Christ Jesus Himself. Among
those who supposedly are in “leadership,” the Bishops, Pastors, Apostles,
evangelists, Prophets, and teachers are all servants. The Church
has no overlords!
Mark 10:42-43
42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which
are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their
great ones exercise authority upon them.
43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you,
shall be your minister:
Christ, and Christ alone, is
the head of the Church!
Failure to look to Christ is
Greed inspired!
Greed is a major problem
within the Church. Many supposed Church
members covet what other Church members have. The Church is filled with greed
for material things.
When the text refers to
“Grecians,” it is not
speaking of Gentile Greeks. Recently I
was amazed to learn that supposedly educated men are absolutely ignorant
concerning Church history in this area.
The “Grecians” were
Hellenistic Jews. They were Greek
speaking Jews. Many Jews today cannot speak Hebrew. The same situation was resident in the days
of Acts.
During Pentecost many Jews
from outside the country had traveled to
Some of those selected to be
the first Deacons may have been converts to Judaism. That does not detract from their Jewish-ness.
Those who attempt to make that case are completely ignorant concerning
conversion to Judaism.
Some Churches conduct
business through the “dictator” system.
That is not biblical. The
congregation elected those who would oversee Church business. If you Church does not use a similar system
of an elected committee to oversee Church business, it is not a Bible based
Church.
Exod 12:48-49
48 And when a stranger shall sojourn
with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be
circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one
that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that
sojourneth among you.
Today, some Synagogues have
among their board members converts to Judaism.
It is only the biblically
ignorant who would believe that the original Deacons were Gentiles who were
“saved” at Pentecost. Nicolas a proselyte of
It would be a few chapters
and several years later before the gospel was opened to Gentiles through Paul.
Jesus mission was to
Matt 15:24 But
he [Christ Jesus] answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of
the house of
The original Apostles
preached only to Jews!
Acts 11:19
Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about
Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and
The Apostles gathered the
Church together and told them, “It is not reasonable for us to abandon the
study of the word of God, and serve tables. Look among yourselves for seven
honest men who are full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom so that they may be appointed
to take care of that business. And, we will continue to give ourselves to
prayer, and the ministry of the word.”
That satisfied the Church,
and they chose Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, and Parmenas, and
Nicolas (who was a proselyte from
They set those seven before
the apostles, who prayed, and laid their hands on them. That was the beginning of the ministry of
Deacons.
Following that, the
dissemination of the word of God increased. The Church greatly increased! Even a large contingent of Priests {Levites}
was obedient to the faith. (Although
those Levites were saved by grace, their understanding of grace may have been
greatly limited, as we shall see.)
Acts 6:8-15
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
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.
One of the seven, Stephen,
being full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the
people. When Stephen came to prominence,
certain members of the synagogue of the Libertines, Cyrenians, and
Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia in Asia (modern
Then they suborned (Gr.
hupebalon-upebalon)
perjury, or conspired with some to lie saying, “We have heard him (Stephen)
speak irreverent words against Moses, and against God.”
They stirred up the people,
the elders, and scribes, and they took him into custody and brought him to the
council (Sanhedrin).
They put forth false
witnesses, who said, “This man always speaks offensive words against this holy
place (the
At that false testimony, all
that sat in the council gazed intently at him.
They saw he now had what seemed to be the face of an angel.