Church Chooses Seven of Good Report and Full of the Spirit to Serve

“Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.  And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.  But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.  And what they said pleased the whole gathering , and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.  These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.  And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.” –Acts 6:1-7 (ESV).

Choosing and ordaining seven men to be deacons began with a definite need of the early church.  It is true that they were not called deacons here, but the verb to serve as translated in 6:2 is from the Greek word diakoneo (noun form, diakonos).  A challenge arose.  Since early Christians were from both Hebrew and Hellenistic backgrounds, a language barrier existed, and in the common effort to assist all who needed help, those who were Hellenists were (or felt) neglected.  Hellenists were people of Jewish descent but who, because of the Diaspora—scattering of the Jews—had lived in areas of the Empire where Greek was the main language. Another noteworthy explanation of this challenge is also seen by the Hebrew practice of  taking care of the needy.  The early Christian church seems to have continued the Hebrew practice of alms, Kuppa (Basket) and Tamhui (Tray).  Briefly explained, alms were collected to help those who needed help.  We see this in the early church by believers bringing their offerings and “having all things in common.”  The Basket was the fund that assured every family in need had fourteen meals in a week’s time.  The Tray was the family-to-family distribution on a daily basis for those with pressing needs.  Acts 6:1 notes that dissatisfaction arose because Hellenistic widows were being “neglected in the daily distribution.” And the apostles were so busy teaching and preaching that they could not attend to all the people’s needs and see that everyone was cared for in an acceptable manner.  Seven men of good report, and full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, were selected and set apart for this task.  And thus was born the practice of deacons to assist with the work and ministry of the church.

To serve is a worthy calling.  Of the seven whose names are listed as the first deacons, we have later accounts of Stephen and Phillip who preached the word as well.  Stephen became the first Christian martyr.  Early historical accounts hold that Prochorus was secretary of John the Beloved who wrote the Revelation and that he was martyred at Syria in Antioch. Because these men were willing to step up when a definite need for service was present in the early church set an example for succeeding church practice.  Persons thus set aside may not always be called “deacons” in every denomination, but in almost every church there are those who willingly and with wisdom and under the Holy Spirit’s leadership attend to the matters of church ministry, business and polity so that the whole burden will not be upon the pastor.  A great concern of the early Christian church was to put the teachings of Jesus into practice to care for the poor, the needy and the sick.  The ministry of service to others is a result of knowing Christ and having the spirit of love and caring.  What results came in the early church after deacons were set apart to relieve the preachers of some of the daily tasks of caring for others?  “The number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great number of the priests became obedient to the truth” (Acts 6:7.  Let us pray for and support those who serve Christ as ordained lay leaders.  They are important in the Lord’s work.