A Study in The Book of Acts

The New Testament Church in Action Part 7

Deacons

 

Today we are going to continue our study in Acts. We will cover a great deal of scripture while concentrating on our original purpose of studying the New Testament church in action.

 

Let’s start in Acts 6: 1-7: 1.  Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.  2.  Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.  3.  "Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit 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 the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6.  whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.  7.  And the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

 

Let’s look briefly at some historical data. Who were the Hellenist? They were Greek speaking Jews, where as the Hebrews were Aramiac speaking Jews. In this instance they are all new believers. The Hellenist came from areas that were traditionally Greek leaning areas, such as Antioch in present day Turkey. They practiced a Greek (gentile) influenced Judaism and spoke Greek. The two most prevalent languages of the time being Greek and Aramiac, plus Hebrew. They influenced the change in Jewish temple practices and government by influencing the formation of the Sadducees who became the more powerful ruling body over the Jewish culture. Logic and wealth over the Pharisees' sect of tradition and legalistic interpretation of the scriptures. The Jewish leadership changed from the God-ordained priesthood to the Sadducee-controlled Sanhedrin, and the law of the land more closely reflected Grecian laws than those given through Moses.

 

This diverse culture was present in the New Testament church, it caused murmuring, which is a sin. As we have discussed earlier, sin had to be stopped at its roots, to prevent undermining of the new church. The murmurings were about the division of food to the widows. Remember they were living a communal lifestyle at this time. This is one of the reasons I believe that a communal lifestyle was a temporary solution that God blessed, to insure the training of the new believers. As in all areas of life, people are still people. We are born again but we are in a fleshly body and we still sin.

 

The Apostles realized they could not continue to be the spiritual leaders of the group and manage the daily activities at the same time. Hence the decision to choose what is known as deacons. Deacon is a Greek term translated as “serve or ministrations”. The apostles decided on the number needed to serve the population of the current church, which was seven. They then instructed the believers to choose them from among themselves. Seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom were to be chosen.

 

These were the initial requirements: of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and Godly wisdom, members of the congregation. Men were chosen who were not seeking a position or importance. They were humble men, already demonstrating that serving spirit. He is a servant to Christ, a servant to the church and a servant to ministry.

 

Later in 1 Timothy 3:8-13 Paul gives further instruction on the qualifications of a deacon. Let’s briefly look at those.

 

1. This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2.  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3.  not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;  4.  one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence  5.  (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);  6.  not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.  7.  Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.  8.  Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9.  holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.  10.  But let these also first be proved; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless.  11.  Likewise their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.
2. Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.  13.  For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

 

Paul tells us here that desiring to be a bishop is a good work. The term bishop here is from the Greek translated as overseer or bishop, one who oversees others. In other translations it is defined as pastor, overseer and deacon as we can see here in the New King James translation. It is speaking as one who serves others.

 

Let’s quickly look at the qualities listed in Acts and as Paul lists them: (some will be combined for time’s sake.)

 

1. Be a believer from your congregation
2. Be of good character and reputation both inside the church and in the community. This is blameless, not know for anger, thoughtful, hardworking, gentle and kind, not quarrelsome. Not a drunkard.
3. Be full of the Holy Spirit, this is, I believe baptized in the Holy spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues.
4. Be full of wisdom, demonstrated Godly wisdom. He cannot be a gossip or slanderer.
5. Be reverent, walking in the fear of the Lord, and strong in faith. He must be teachable.
6. Be a seasoned believer not a new believer. Notice I did not say older believer, but a seasoned one. A deacon must be strong in the Lord, in faith, knowing and obeying the word of God. He should be humble, not given to pride.
7. Have a good reputation as a strong family man. A good leader of his family, a priest of his household, a mentor to his wife and children. His wife also must be a woman of faith, not prideful, a strong Christian woman in her own right. He should be faithful to her and her to him. The husband of one wife. (many interpret this as a deacon or pastor cannot be divorced.)
8. Be able to handle money well, not greedy, a tither and giver.

 

Let me speak to us women, many of us wives to deacons or elders. We must constantly strive to be models for the younger women. We should support our husband in prayer, and action. Remember we are to be his helpmate. We should demonstrate our love for our husband and our children. We should “walk the walk,” not “talk the walk”.

 

So, the seven are chosen, and as we will see later, the apostles lay hands on them and pray for them to serve. The laying on of hands and praying is a custom we will see later as we continue in our study.  Remember these men had already proved themselves to the church and already proved in many of the above areas. This left the apostles to be free to pray and continue in the ministry of the word. Remember they only had their memories of the teaching of Jesus and the law and the prophets. The were very dependent on the Holy Spirit for guidance.

 

 Jesus told them in John 16: 13-14:  13.  "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.  14.  "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

 

The apostles had to spend time in prayer to hear from the Holy Spirit.

We see here the introduction not only of Stephen but Phillip the evangelist. We will not discuss the ministry of Stephen or his great sermon in chapter 7. Stephen is the first to be martyred for Jesus after the crucifixion. He is accused by Jews and taken before the council. It is again an illegal trial. Accusing Him of untrue teaching against Moses and the temple. It resulted in His death by stoning and His vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of God to receive Him.

 

Stephen was a true deacon. He was known to the church, and community, He was gentle, full of the knowledge of God. Served the church. Was obedient, kind, not self-seeking or prideful. Always glorifying God in all he did. He was a teacher. Even as they accused him, he witnessed to his accusers and his executioners.  He was so full of the love of God and filled with the spirit that He was able to see Jesus as he died. I believe he died when he chose, not when his physical body was bludgeoned. He spoke and taught what the Holy Spirit instructed him to say to the mob and when he was finished, he died or as some translations say, “went to sleep.”  Stephen was and is a great example for all of us to follow, even praying for forgiveness for His executioners.

 

The last thing I want to discuss it that here in chapter 7:58:

“58.  and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.”

This is the introduction of Saul, later to become Paul to us.

We will continue with chapter 8 next week.