The Choosing of the Seven
1In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."5This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Stephen Seized
8Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. 9Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. These men began to argue with Stephen, 10but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.11Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, "We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God."
12So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13They produced false witnesses, who testified, "This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us."
15All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Posts
HELLENIST
ReplyDeletea) one who imitates the manners and customs or the worship of the Greeks, and use the Greek tongue
b) used in the NT of Jews born in foreign lands and speaking Greek
------------------------
So just after people were selling all they had to give to the church....the church starts overlooking people. And of course it would happen. Because humans fail. I think that most of us could look at the world and recognize the 'overlooked.' But who are the ones that Rio is overlooking? Or in our lives? Who are we not including in all aspects (not just physical) but spiritual, mental, emotional?
3 "choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom."
the seven where to be full of the Spirit & wisdom. This ties in well w/ the Tempe Bridge series of Galatians 5:22. How do you identify one who is full of the Spirit? They will bear the fruits of the Spirit. And I think its interesting the word 'wisdom' is used and not intellect. Sometimes its easy to acquire knowledge, but more difficult to become wise. Definitions below:
-----------------
INTELLECT
1. the power or faculty of the mind by which one knows or understands, as distinguished from that by which one feels and that by which one wills; the understanding; the faculty of thinking and acquiring knowledge.
2. capacity for thinking and acquiring knowledge, esp. of a high or complex order; mental capacity.
WISDOM
the wisdom which belongs to men
1. spec. the varied knowledge of things human and divine, acquired by acuteness and experience, and summed up in maxims and proverbs
2. the knowledge and practice of the requisites for godly and upright living
-----------------------------
v 10 "but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke."
Wisdom & Spirit are character traits, but they are also things that can be identified by our speech. They are things that can (and should) be differences that are viewable and definable by people who don't know Jesus. We should be different in the way we speak.
v11"Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, "We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God."
We can use our words to build up or to break down. Through our voices, people can find wisdom, they can find the Spirit, they can see Jesus...or they can see lies, hurt, deception.