And the Grace of Our Lord Was Exceeding Abundant With Faith And Love Which Is In Christ Jesus - Part 1207

"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." (Acts 6:1)

The word Grecian is the Greek word for "hellenists" which is used throughout the New Testament to refer to Jews born in a foreign land and yet still spoke Greek. Note that the author here is not referring to the Gentiles (because at this point in Acts the Gentiles had not yet been grafted in) but to the Jewish widows who were born outside of Jerusalem.

For reference, the Grecians are cited elsewhere in Acts when Barnabas preaches the Lord Jesus to them. In one such example, "the hand of the Lord was upon them and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord." (Acts 9:29; Acts 11:20; Joel 3:6)

As indicated above, the Grecians were concerned that the widows were being neglected in food distribution. Up until this point, the apostles had made a practice of making sure that every man and woman was provided for according to his or her need. We read of similar examples where disciples of Jesus willingly gave their surplus so that none among them lacked. (Acts 2:41, Acts 4:35, and Acts 11:29) 

In this particular case, the apostles did not shirk from their responsibility. Rather, the apostles recognized that there was a need for others to help with the ministering of the gospel.

"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. 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, but we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the Word." (Acts 6:2-4)

Interestingly, there is a similar example cited on the old covenant side, whereby Moses father-in-law raised a similar issue concerning Moses. He asked, "What is this thing that thou doest to they people? Why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?" And Moses said unto his father in law, "Because the people come unto me to enquire of God. When they have a matter, they come unto me, and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and His laws." What did Moses father-in-law say?

"The thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely: ; Matthew wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee; for this thing is too heavy for thee. Thou art not able to perform it. Hearken now unto my voice. I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee. Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God, and thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work they must do. Moreover, thou shalt provide out of all the people, able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness, and place such over them ... and let them judge the people at all seasons ..." (Exodus 18:13-23)

The difference between the old covenant and the new testament is that in the latter example, we are "equals" within the body of Christ. As Jesus so aptly put, "I have chosen and ordained you." (John 15:16)

So when the twelve 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, "whom they set before the apostles" these were united in one accord through the Holy Ghost. 

These men also held the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience, including the mystery of godliness that includes the understanding of who Jesus was (the Word). That is, God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:7-16; Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:21-23) As when Matthias was numbered with the eleven to take part in the ministry and apostleship (from which Judas by transgression fell), he also was with one accord in the good news message of the Kingdom, standing in unison with Peter and the other apostles on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 1:23-Acts 2:14) But I digress.

So, when the twelve prayed, and laid their hands on the seven, the Lord knew the hearts of those that chose to take part in this ministry and apostleship. (Acts 1:24) And, as a consequence of their profession, "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." (Acts 6:7)

Why? Because the seven (like Jesus' 12 disciples) preached the Word.

One of the seven -- Stephen was a table servant. Mind you, his reputation among the people (and noted in the scripture) was that Stephen was full of faith and power, and did great wonders and miracles among the people. (Acts 6:8) Although not one of the original twelve disciples, Stephen still performed wonders and miracles. This example, in and of itself serves as proof that the Lord did not just perform miracles through His original chosen disciples, but those that followed later.

But there was another attribute among the seven to make note of. That is, Stephen was also full of boldness when it came to preaching Jesus the Christ as our one and only Saviour.

We see this when 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. These were filled with indignation at the doctrine of Stephen, and perhaps, even somewhat envious of the miracles he performed. So, as the scriptures cite, these disputed with Stephen. And yet they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake. (Acts 6:9-10)

Indeed, all of these groups disputed the Word with him. But when they could not persuade Stephen from his teaching, they decided to speak against him. Remember, how Jesus had told the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury, that He -- Jesus -- "will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist"? (Luke 21:15) This is what was happening here. 

But Stephen's gospel message didn't change because of his audience. In fact, the message he preached in Acts 7 was very similar to the one preached by Peter (standing with the eleven disciples) on the day of Pentecost. Therein, the first 3,000 Jews (also pricked in their hearts) "gladly" received the gospel. (Acts 2:36-42)

But not here. These instead suborned (or bribed men) to say of Stephen, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God." 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. 

Therein, these set up false witnesses which said, "This man ceases not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the Law, for we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us." (Acts 6:11-14)

Had these read the old covenant scrolls as these learned men were ordained by the authorities of the day, these would have known two things from the scriptures. First, the purpose of the prophesied Messiah or Christ was to change the customs which Moses delivered, because He Himself would save His people from their sin. (Matthew 1:21-23) 

"(For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that hand not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of Him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace which is by one man -- Jesus Christ -- hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift, for the judgement was by one to condemnation, but the free gift of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ)." (Romans 5:13-17; I Corinthians 15:21-22)

"Because He hath poured out His soul unto death and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (Isaiah 53:11-12; Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah 43:1; Genesis 49:10)

"Therefore, as by the offence of one judgement, came upon all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men into justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous. Moreover, the Law entered that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound, that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so, might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:18-21)

Today, we realize that this same persecution that was evident in Jesus' time, and in the apostles' day, is in the world today. The same spirit and response to the Word that eventually led to Stephen's death is still vengeful against those who preach Jesus today. 

Two examples. The first on the day of Pentecost when the people gladly repented and were baptized in Jesus' name, and the second, when Stephen preached the same apostles' doctrine but was hated for the Word. Jesus warned us that the anti-christ was in the world. 

In fact, Jesus said, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you ... If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. " (John 15:16-20)

In other words, we are to marvel not if the world hates us, because the worldly spirit first hated Jesus and crucified him. In Stephen's case, a man full of the Holy Ghost, he was willing to boldly proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, regardless of the consequences. Like the apostles, he recognized that the true gospel divided the cities, leaving those who would love Jesus and those who would gnash their teeth and close their ears simply because of the precious name of Jesus.

What we need to remember today is that the grace that we have received is sufficient for all seasons. 

Jesus said, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5; Deuteronomy 31:6-8; Philippians 4:6-7)

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [His] purpose." (Romans 8:28)

This may explain why in the last verse of Acts 6, "all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on [Stephen] saw his face as it had been the face of the angel." (Acts 6:15)

Stand in the offering plate.

(As background, the differences between synagogues could be likened to the variety of churches that are found within our own landscape. For example, the Libertines is a Roman name that signifies freedmen, or "free men" who were sons of Jews that had likely obtained their freedom in Rome. The Cyrenians, as the name suggests are natives of Cyrene from whence many Jews came. It is believed that the Cyrenians and the Libertines may have belonged to the same synagogue, or conversely, had distinct synagogues unique to them. To my knowledge, this is not well established. The Alexandrians had a peculiar synagogue which was at Jerusalem and that is known because the Jewish made reference to it in their writings. Often, when something needed repaired, the men from Alexandria were summoned and thus, from this re-settlement of people, a synagogue was established. Saul of Tarsus was from the synagogue attended by the Cilicians).