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Infallibility of the Scriputes
Infallibility of the Scriputes
Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.
Acts 6:1
Hellonists - Greek speaking Jews (most people spoke Greek at this time).
The Hebrews were native Palestinian Jews who would speak Aramaic as their primary language and attend Hebrew-speaking synagogues, they would probably understand Greek (it being like the ‘English’ of the day), but wouldn’t be as fluent in general.
Hellonists - Greek speaking Jews (most people spoke Greek at this time). So common was Greek that between ~280 B.C. the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament was created by 70-72 scholars (6 each from each of the 12 tribes of Israel) at the request of Ptolemy II Philadelphus, the Egyptian Pharaoh during the literary height of the Alexandrian Court, and the builder of the great Library of Alexandria. This translation survives to this day and is how we know with absolute certainty that the prophecies of Jesus, present in the OT, predate him by 100s of years.
The Church is growing rapidly, and no longer encompasses just Jerusalem and Hebrew Jews, but is reaching the diaspora, those Jews that live outside of Palestine. These Jews would speak Greek, and would be far more numerous. It was also starting to reach gentile converts for Judaism (Nicolaus the proselyte or Gentile convert).
So common were Hellonists that around ~280 B.C. the Septuagint (Greek translation) of the Old Testament was created by 70-72 scholars (6 each from each of the 12 tribes of Israel) at the request of Ptolemy II Philadelphus, the Egyptian Pharaoh during the literary height of the Alexandrian Court, and the builder of the great Library of Alexandria. This translation survives to this day and is how we know with absolute certainty that the prophecies of Jesus, present in the OT, predate him by 100s of years. And it is on this that Stephen will elaborate soon.
The solution to a problem
The solution to a problem
And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, 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 Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, 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 Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.
Don’t lose focus! - Notice the Apostles don’t dismiss the problem, but recognize that they shouldn’t be pulled away from their primary purpose - to preach the word of God
Appoint - It’s easy to miss, but the 7 names chosen to resolve the issue are all Greek names, these are Hellonists! But look what qualified them to serve?
Anoint - Having chosen others to serve, they anoint them, pray for them and grant them authority, which equips them to succeed.
What he have is the formation of the churches first Deaconate (Deacons - to serve)
Stephen and Philip don’t just serve here but God will use them mightily in the chapters to come.
Success
Success
And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
The new Deacons were extremely successful in ensuring the church modeled Christ in it’s compassion and charity, so much so, that even the priests that had persecuted them started coming to faith!