Acts 6- The Witness Beyond Jerusalem
Acts 6 marks a transition in the story of the early church. The gospel begins to move beyond Jerusalem, reaching new groups and cultures just as Jesus had promised in Acts 1:8. What started in the upper room is now spreading outward, and God is raising new leaders to carry the message further.
The Growing Church and Growing Tension
Acts 6:1 As the number of believers increased, so did the need for organization and care. The church was growing fast, and with that came tension between two groups of Jewish Christians. The Hellenists, who spoke Greek and were often born outside Palestine, felt their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. The Hebrews, native Jews who spoke Aramaic, likely missed this need unintentionally.
Acts 6:1 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.
Even in a Spirit-filled church, misunderstandings can happen. Growth always brings challenges, and unity must be guarded carefully. The issue was not neglect born of malice but of oversight. Still, the apostles took it seriously. True ministry requires attention both to the Word and to people’s needs.
The Appointment of the Seven
Acts 6:2–6 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.
The apostles gathered the believers and said, It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. They were not dismissing the importance of service but recognizing their primary calling. So they asked the community to choose seven men full of the Spirit and wisdom to handle the daily needs, while they devoted themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word.
The congregation chose seven men, among them Stephen and Philip, who would soon play key roles in the gospel’s expansion. The apostles prayed and laid hands on them, affirming their calling. This moment shows the beauty of shared ministry. Every believer has a role. The work of the church thrives when each part functions in unity and order.
Stephen: A Man Full of Grace and Power
Acts 6:8–10 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.
Stephen was not only a servant but also a man full of grace and power. He ministered to the needy, taught the Word, and performed signs and wonders. His boldness drew the attention of certain Hellenistic Jews who opposed him. These were men from synagogues of freedmen and from regions across North Africa and Asia Minor. They debated Stephen but could not resist the wisdom and Spirit by which he spoke.
Stephen’s ministry reminds us that serving tables does not limit spiritual power. God uses those who serve with humility as vessels of His truth and authority. Obedience in the small things opens doors for greater assignments.
False Accusations and Divine Glory
Acts 6:11–15 Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Unable to defeat Stephen’s wisdom, his accusers stirred up false witnesses. They claimed he spoke against Moses and the temple, echoing the words of Jesus about destroying the temple and rebuilding it in three days. Yet Stephen’s focus was not destruction but transformation. He understood that through Christ, God’s dwelling was no longer in a building but in His people.
As Stephen stood before the council, his face shone like that of an angel. The glory of God rested on him, even in the face of accusation. What a picture of peace and divine presence. God honors those who stand for truth with courage and grace.
In Finality,
Acts 6 shows us that the witness of Christ cannot be contained. From Jerusalem, the message was already spreading outward, preparing the way for the gospel to reach Samaria, Ethiopia, and beyond. The chapter also teaches us that growth in the church requires both structure and Spirit. Organization without power is lifeless, but power without structure becomes chaotic. God uses both.
Stephen’s example calls us to serve faithfully, speak boldly, and reflect God’s glory even in adversity. His life reminds us that our ministry is not measured by title or position but by faithfulness and surrender to the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Father, thank You for the growth and wisdom we see in Acts 6.
Teach me to serve with humility and to lead with grace
Fill me with Your Spirit so I may speak truth with boldness
Help me to value unity in the body of Christ
May Your glory shine through my life in every circumstance
Use me as a witness beyond my comfort zone
Let Your Word spread through my service, my words, and my life
In Jesus name Amen