Acts 6

Summary. This chapter shows that the Holy Spirit worked through the apostles and other disciples, and the Word of God spread among people. However, the dark side was also at work, stirring the leaders to harm the disciples. Acts 6:1-6. Seven disciples are chosen to serve tables. The disciples were multiplying fast, and some complaints arose among them. The twelve apostles must follow their call to continue in prayer and preach the Word of God; therefore, they chose seven disciples full of the Holy Spirit to serve tables. Acts 6:7. The Word of God increased. As much as the word of God was spreading, the people were drawn to the Holy Word, and the number of people that the word had touched the hearts multiplied. Acts 6:8-15. Stephen is seized. Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, spoke the word with power, and the Lord worked great wonders and signs among the people. However, people under the dark side's influence worked together and seized Stephen, but the Holy Spirit magnified His power through Stephen: when people looked at him, they saw his face as that of an angel.

[1] Now in these days, the disciples are multiplying; there arose a complaint of the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service.

Comments Acts 6:1 Let believers pay attention to the verse. When more believers join together, human nature tends to complain because humans tend to take care of those they feel have something similar to them. Remember, in the eyes of God Almighty, humans are humans: no race, no language barrier; treat each other equally, give no favor to no one.

[2] And the twelve having called the multitude of the disciples, they said, It is not acceptable for us, having neglected the word of God, to serve tables.

Comments Acts 6:2 Let every believer pay attention to this verse. If you are serving the Living God with true heart, the commitment towards the Lord God Almighty must be firm as well; the first duty to serve God Almighty is to proclaim the name of the Lord Jesus and His teachings. The Lord God Almighty has given humans the Holy Bible, and all true believers have the same duty of spreading out the teachings of God. There is no need for personal understanding by the human mind's interpretation of what the words of the Bible mean, but the understanding of the Holy Word will be given if you have the duty; the person you meet will receive the knowledge when the true believer has received the understanding from the Lord God Almighty to speak out; to have school or not is not related to having knowledge of the Holy Word; the knowledge of the Holy Word comes from the Lord God Almighty, not from the human teachings.
Q: In this verse context, what does it mean to serve tables? A: The meeting among believers in this place should not be about party socializing, but true believers must spread out the Holy Word and not meet only for socializing. If the tables in this place have no purpose in worshiping the Lord God Almighty, then the verse clearly tells us not to serve at the tables.
Q: What activities were the disciples doing that required serving tables? A: These tables in this place were for serving food for the body; the disciples were not supposed to stop working in serving God and go to serve the tables only for food, but if those tables were for the believer to talk about the faith, then the Lord allowed to do the serving.

[3] Therefore, select brothers from among you, seven men well testified, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint over this task.

Comments Acts 6:3 “... seven men well testified.” Let all believers give attention to what the Word says: among the believers themselves, the Lord God Almighty has seen their hearts and chosen out seven of them; the ones that have been selected also will have the duty and work as well to do.
“Full of the Spirit and of wisdom ...” The human heart tends to give favors to someone it prefers more than others. Without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, not every brother will be treated fairly. Sharing food can also lead to quarrels if it is not fair; that is the reason people need the Holy Spirit to help them be fair.

[4] But we will steadfastly continue in the prayer and the ministry of the word.

Comments Acts 6:4 In this verse, let all readers pay attention as well; the apostles continued to keep in prayer and spread out the good news, but if the apostles went and served the tables, this action would be interrupted as well unless those tables were for the believers, and in that case, the prayer would be needed, and the teaching of the Holy Word would be proclaimed in a good way.

[5] And the word was pleasing before all the multitude; 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 Nicolas a convert of Antioch;

[6] whom they set before the apostles; and having prayed, they laid the hands upon them.

Comments Acts 6:5-6 Pay attention that when the persons have been chosen out, not by humans, but by God, the apostles followed the guidance of the Lord by laying hands upon them all; the prayer the apostles have made to the Lord God Almighty was for blessing these people and for giving them the strength and the will to do the work of God.
We can all see from the verse that all these men were true believers; the persons they chose had behaved according to faith and were filled with the Holy Spirit; the way to select people to work for the Lord should be by this standard as well.

[7] And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Comments Acts 6:7 “And the word of God increased ...” As much as the word of God was spreading, the people were drawn to the Holy Word, and the number of people that the word had touched the hearts multiplied; the work was starting in the people first because of the word they heard.
“And a great company of the priests ...” The people who have taken their position of leaders in teaching also were coming to be the true followers of the Lord God Almighty and multiply the faith; the obedient hearts of the leaders would lead the people in the right direction.

[8] And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.

Comments Acts 6:8 As the verse says, the person the Lord has chosen has performed wonderful signs for people to see; now, people feel more confident that the Lord God Almighty is among them.
Q: What custom was there with these serving tables? A: In the beginning, when the disciples proclaimed the mighty work of God Almighty, sometimes they would gather people together by inviting all of them to come to join at the same table regarding the Word of God; these gatherings would bring those who did not fully believe yet but were searching, and that was why the mighty work had been performed among them. All signs had been done for the believers who were on the tables; when you sit among people who do not believe, your mind wonders, so great signs have been performed to keep their faith steady.

[9] But there arose certain of those from the synagogue called Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.

[10] And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by whom he spoke.

Comments Acts 6:9-10 The people who speak through the Holy Spirit will not be overpowered by normal humans; in this place, many rose up against the work of God, but the believer full of the Holy Spirit spoke the word, and the Word of God overpowered the rioters.

[11] Then they suborned men, saying, We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.

Comments Acts 6:11 “Then they suborned men, saying.” The dark side works against God Almighty, but they do not fight by themselves: humans have been used to fighting against God. Humans who do not know the difference between their right and left are different: they have an easy mind to be swayed to fight; even though the eyes of humans have seen all the work of God Almighty, it is still easy to persuade them to do dark deeds.
“We have heard him speaking ...” Who is the father of lies? The father of lies always wants to fight against God Almighty. When you lie that someone has talked against God Almighty, it becomes you yourself who speaks against God Almighty. Let all readers pay attention: blasphemy is a great sin; before you let your mouth speak out, think well about what you are doing.

[12] And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and having come upon him, they seized him, and brought him into the Council;

Comments Acts 6:12 God's people always face challenges from the dark. In this place, we can clearly see how the dark used people. Now, not common people, but some leaders have joined and listened to the dark side. It won't be easy, but in this place, the Lord God Almighty will also show His power.

[13] they set up also false witnesses, saying, This man does not cease to speak words against this holy place, and the law;

Comments Acts 6:13 “They set up also false witnesses.” Let all believers listen carefully to what the verse says. These people received the teaching from the dark side of how to fight against the children of God Almighty. This tactic has been used since the beginning of creation. Even the beloved Son of God Himself was framed by the liar. But be patient and continue to pray. The beloved Son of God has already put the liar spirit under His feet, and at the end, every soul will see how they will be judged.
“This man does not cease to speak ...” When a person accuses a believer of saying things against authority and law, give attention to the fact that, as believers, the Holy Bible teaches us to obey the law because the law also comes from God Almighty if that law does not fight against the law of God Himself.

[14] for we have heard him saying that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us.

Comments Acts 6:14 “For we have heard him saying that this Jesus of Nazareth ...” The father of lies wants to put people's minds to fighting against the beloved Son of God, but the beloved Son of God is not the God of destroying but of building and love; not even destroying the material is in His will.
“And will change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” Moses, the messenger of God, wrote down what he received the order from God Almighty. The beloved Son of God will not change the order of the Father; what God the Father gives as an order will stay, and nothing can be changed.

[15] And all who sat in the Council, having looked intently on him, saw his face as the face of an angel.

Comments Acts 6:15 The Holy Spirit has magnified His power on earth at this time; with magnificent power, He has covered the eyes of people. When people look at the disciples speaking out the Word of God, their eyes have seen the light of the Holy Spirit shining; this miracle will stir people's hearts to think of what they are doing at this time.

Life and faith applications. 1) As a believer, pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit to be able to fulfill the Lord's call on your life. 2) As the Lord gives you an opportunity, spread the Word of God with courage. 3) Meditate on the Word of God so you know well what the Lord Jesus did and taught.