Acts 6.
There arose a murmuring of the Jews, brought up in Gentile countries (called Helenists), against those brought up in Judah (called Hebrews), because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration of food. How this happened we are not told, but we read in it a lesson of how easily murmuring comes into the heart, and grace towards each other is needed to keep from it, or from doing anything to cause it.
The twelve called the multitude together, and said, “It is not reason that we should leave the Word of God, and serve tables.” They direct them to look out seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom they might appoint over this business. “But,” said they, “we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.” This settled the difficulty. They could not give up their proper work to which the Lord had called them. So seven are selected to serve. The word “deacon” means, “minister” or “servant.” They select Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, of whom we shall hear more, and other five. The names of the seven would indicate that they were all Helenists, so that none could blame the Hebrews any more.
The apostles prayed, and laid their hands on them, thus expressing their approval of these men. Thus Ephesians 4:2, 32With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:2‑3), is carried out in practice, though the doctrine of the One body, and the Unity of the One Spirit had not yet been unfolded; that was given later through the Apostle Paul.
It is important to see that with the apostles, prayer and ministry go together; ministry following prayer, by it overcoming the power of evil, and receiving wisdom and strength for their service to be maintained in the power and unction of the truth.
Verse 7. The influence of the Word increased, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem were greatly multiplied; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith, It seems that the opposition without, and the evil within, became an occasion to manifest the truth, and to deepen it in their souls.
Stephen is specially distinguished as full of faith and power, and doing great wonders and miracles among the people. The Holy Spirit selects him as His special witness at this time to meet the Helenists’ schools of disputers. They were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke, but their enmity Was implacable. They procured men to accuse him of speaking blasphemous words against Moses, and against God, and stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, and set up false witnesses, which said, “This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and 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 us.” From this it is evident that Stephen’s testimony told them not only of their sin in crucifying their Messiah, but also of the disastrous judgment that was to fall on Jerusalem, spoken by the Lord (Matt. 22:77But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. (Matthew 22:7)). He is the one selected by the Holy Spirit for this occasion, and to bring before them, and us all, the opened heavens, and the Son of Man rejected on earth, in the glory of God. As he stands before the council, all looked steadfastly on him, and saw the heavenly appearance of his face, as it had been the face of an angel. But it does not change their enmity of heart against Christ; they proceed to their diabolical work.