August 25, 2024
While we as Baptists may celebrate larger churches, larger churches are not free of problems.
The Jerusalem church was “increasing in number,” but a divisive issue arose that threatened to divide them. The Greek text utilizes a term that suggests that the issue was dire. It describes a complaint uttered in a low tone. The issue was not at the forefront of discussion but was more akin to the chatter around the water fountain in a Baptist church. The leadership was not aware of the issue initially.
This type of behind-the-scenes complaining can wreak havoc in a church. However, church conflict can pave the way for church growth if handled properly.
We have a common saying that goes, “The bumps are what you grow on.” The Jewish leadership had been pressuring the early church, and this period of trial had resulted in spiritual revival and church growth. Church growth should be the desire of every Christian, but I have observed churches that do not have a passion for growth because the growth will require change.
The apostles desired to focus on the preaching of the Word rather than on administrative matters.
They encouraged the Church to appoint seven Greek-speaking men who had a “good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom” who could relieve the apostles of ministering to the physical needs of widows. Remember that there was no Social Security or 401(k) to provide for widows in the first century. James describes “pure and undefiled religion” as looking “after orphans and widows in their distress” (James 1:27). The early Church kept lists of widows needing assistance (1 Tim. 5.9–10).
The seven men charged with the task of meeting the needs of the widows are not labeled “deacons” in this passage, yet they fulfilled the role of deacons described in the Bible. I have no problem viewing the seven men as the first deacons. Only two of the seven men chosen by the church are highlighted in Scripture, namely Stephen and Philip.
Luke describes Stephen as “a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit.” As a result of the ministry of Stephen and Philip, “the Word of God spread, the disciples in Jerusalem increased in number and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.”
Grace, power, wonders, signs and opposition characterize Stephen’s service to Jesus. The source of opposition came from the Freedmen’s Synagogue, which was a synagogue composed of emancipated slaves. These freed slaves argued with Stephen but were not able to win the argument because of Stephen’s wisdom and the Spirit of God.
The Jewish leaders presented false witnesses who claimed that Stephen attacked two key aspects of Judaism, which were speaking against the temple and speaking against the Mosaic law. While not mentioned in this chapter, Luke describes Saul as one who held the garments of the men guilty of the martyrdom of Stephen, showing that he agreed with his martyrdom. Perhaps the witness of Stephen’s death was one of the goads against which Paul kicked before his salvation (26:14).
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This lesson was written by Mark Rathel, professor at the Baptist College of Florida in Graceville, Fla., and originally published by The Baptist Paper. This study is based on the Explore the Bible curriculum from Lifeway Christian Resources.
