CHAPTER 6
On the ordination of the seven deacons.
Acts 6:1-2 Now in these days, as the number of the disciples was increasing, a complaint arose of the Greek speakers against the Hebrews, because their widows were being neglected in the daily ministry. Therefore the twelve, having called together the whole body of the disciples, said, “It is not right that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.”
Not on the same days, but on certain following ones. Yet, intending to begin the narration in the manner of Scripture, he proceeds in this way even now. He calls those speaking Greek not the religion, but those as Greek speakers . And by the murmuring he proclaims a kind of temptation, not from outside, but from within. For this shows the tested nature of the apostles, borne through being opposed on all sides. For when the twelve called together the multitude, and those about to enjoy the benefit of the appointed service, they allow them the choice, deeming themselves unworthy and occupied with serving tables , having neglected the word according to God . Therefore they laid hands on those chosen as deacons, not according to the present rank in the churches, but in order to distribute with precision to orphans and widows the provisions for their maintenance and not carelessly, and especially to widows and orphans because of whom the complaint is greatest. He calls charity a ministry, since it both cared for those who performed it and honored those who were benefited. It was not wickedness that made them overlook the widows, but the laziness of the many. Therefore, having been deemed worthy of concern, the thing that gave sorrow was stopped. So too the public service. For he wishes to make clear the meaning of the word ministry [διακονίας]. For the Greeks call the public treasury a Λήῖτον, insofar as anyone hastens to it to contribute, whether from ambition or from means, toward a common provision. [CHRYSOSTOM]
Acts 6:3-7 So appoint, therefore, brothers, seven men from among you who are testified to be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall set over this business. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit; and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch; whom they set before the apostles. And when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God multiplied, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly. And a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
They remained filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom , the appeal of the apostles required those who were to be chosen. For it is not for anyone to bear the curse of orphans and widows, nor of those who consume and devour them. For although he may not have been a thief, yet through sloth and his own negligence losing everything, or rashly perverting whatever he meets, they would bring no benefit to the office, nothing from the toleration of nothings, which is the greatest sign of wisdom. He says moreover that the word of God was growing through such a kind of descent (showing how great is the power of almsgiving), so that not even the assembly of the priests deviated from the purpose without being taken up together.
The Jews' uprising and slander against Stephen, and his sermon concerning God's covenant with Abraham, and concerning the twelve patriarchs: in which is also contained the famine, temptation and recognition of Jacob's sons, and concerning the birth of Moses, and the divine appearance made to him on Mount Sinai, concerning the exodus of the children of Israel and the formation of rites up to the time of Solomon, and the building of the temple. A confession of the supercelestial glory of Jesus Christ revealed to Stephen, in which, being stoned, Stephen devotedly fell asleep.
Acts 6:8 Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.
With the common ordination of the seven having taken place, Stephen obtained the greater grace of choice for the one more suitable for selection. For he who before ordination did not perform marvels, when it was not evident what he was, and when by ordination he became known, then the charism bestowed at the ordination was also displayed, so that it might be made clear either that grace alone is not sufficient, but that a supplementation of grace by ordination is required, according to the difference in those who receive it from readiness.
Acts 6:9-12a But some of those from the synagogue called the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of Cilicia, and of Asia arose, disputing with Stephen; and they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke. Then they persuaded men, saying, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God. And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes.
He says that their frenzy and momentum rose again and that they were not only roused against themselves but also would soon debate and sophisticate with another crowd, perhaps Libertines, and Alexandrians, and Cyrenaicans, and Cilicians, and Asians . And just as the discussion proceeds through another crowd, so likewise the accusation through others, and the plot of tricksters and desperate men. For, being prevented by Gamaliel from attempting anything against the apostles, and having nothing to charge against them, they now attack Stephen with slander, having missed the debate held in the clubs of talkers, and he says they perhaps call the Romans Libertines , having styled themselves after Livia the wife of Augustus, since the woman was also visible and especially loved for her virtue by Augustus. Indeed she herself lived on in return, persistently attending upon the tomb of Augustus.
In another way : the Libertines and Cyrenians from beyond Alexandria, since they were thought to surpass the Jews in sophistry. Therefore various synagogues were stationed in Jerusalem according to nations. And they had places set apart for the reading of the laws of Moses. For many of those who came up to Jerusalem to worship, especially at the Passover, which it was not lawful to celebrate outside Jerusalem, lodged there. So that, in order not to be compelled to emigrate from their homelands, they frequented Jerusalem and ministered there. The freedmen of the Romans were called Libertines. And when Stephen therefore despised them, as men hardened in heart and unwilling to converse, they, emboldened by their own vanity, were foremost in disputing with him. But to him alone, not to another, one thing: to bring shame upon the signs performed by him from envy, as if they might somehow place him in difficulty; and to those acting as representatives, out of ignorance; the other, that by diverting their discussion toward him they might keep him from attending to the signs. Therefore, when these things were present, and in addition they craftily introduced something against the law, so also all their zeal, he himself, having anticipated their craftiness, did this first, having launched a more combative attack upon them, and by the power of the divine Spirit and wisdom in him he shut them up in confusion; then, when they wanted to reply in a more puzzling fashion, so that they might not even then be intelligible. For this reason their proceedings already became more like robbery. And he himself most plainly attacked them through their desires. What was this? The abolition of the law. He did not say these things, but he routed them. For if he had spoken openly, they would not have needed false witnesses. Which outcome was the desired end for him, but for them he stored up destruction.
Acts 6:12b And when they had arrested him, they led him away to the council.
Stealthy attackers everywhere press on: seizing Christ through murderous men, bearing swords, and with the help of torches and the blaze of lamps of the night. They drag Peter and the remaining apostles from the temple, and now also Stephen to be judged, from the place of teaching to the council.
Acts 6:13-14 False witnesses stood up and said: "This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered to us."
They brought men who said that “ we have heard him uttering blasphemous words against Moses and God.” What were the words? “ That this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place .” And indeed Stephen said this, though not perhaps in so bare a form. How then are these men persuaded and false witnesses? Because they did not hear it as they now reported, but lied. For since they had heard otherwise and now advanced a different account, it is reasonable that they be recorded as false witnesses. Just as it would be false testimony concerning Christ to say that he declared (Matt. 26:12), “I will destroy” the temple (for he did not say “I will destroy,” but “you destroy” [Λύσατε 1 ], (Jn. 2:19) assigning the act of destroying to those men, not to himself, therefore false), so now they are false in claiming that to the Nazarene Stephen ascribed the destruction of the law and of the place. And to make that claim about a man from Nazareth clearly shows it was by his own hand and not by God and through Roman armies. But the customs of Moses were clearly changed for the better by the same God, through his own disciples and apostles. But the Nazarene was spoken of reproachfully. Now Stephen nowhere called Christ a Nazarene, except the rulers of the Hebrews. He himself always revered Christ and declared him just as proclaimed by the prophets, and always present with God. This is clear also from the words spoken before him. With these the wretched life of this man ended, being released. "He will destroy this place ." For they had great reverence for the temple, when they wished also to emigrate. And there would be a twofold accusation if he changes their customs , and sets up other practices in opposition. Moses, moreover, was put forward everywhere, since the things of God would not be to them as those of Moses. Therefore he lived entirely for the glory of the crowd alone.
__________________
Translator notes for Acts chapter 6.
1. “Destroy” [Λύσατε] Grammatically, it is the 2nd person plural, aorist active imperative of the verb λύω. In Greek, λύσατε is a command meaning "loose," "untie," or "destroy," depending on the context.