Глава шестая

Acts 6:1. In these days, when the disciples multiplied, there was a murmur among the Hellenists against the Jews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution of needs. Not on the same days when the Angel freed the apostles from prison, but a few days after these - such a turn of phrase is common in Scripture. And Hellenists, in my opinion, calls people who spoke Hellenic. "In the daily distribution of needs". So, serving widows was an everyday matter. The act of almsgiving is called service. The contempt of widows did not come from bad qualities, but from the oversight of the people. Therefore, as soon as care for them was offered to the people, their grief stopped. Acts 6:2–7. Then the twelve Apostles, having called together many disciples, said: It is not good for us to leave the word of God and worry about the tables. Therefore, brethren, select from among yourselves seven qualified men, filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom; We will put them in this service. And we will constantly remain in prayer and the ministry of the word. And this proposal was acceptable to the whole meeting; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenes, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert from the pagans; They were placed before the Apostles, and they, having prayed, laid their hands on them. And the word of God grew, and the number of disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem; and many of the priests submitted to the faith. It is not the apostles themselves who elect, but they provide the election to the people, who were to benefit from the ministry of the deacons; he both elects and appoints. “It is not good for us to leave the word of God and worry about tables.” Because what is necessary should be preferred to what is not necessary. “Choose out from among you seven qualified men, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.” The writer calls them not just spiritual, but filled with the Spirit and wisdom, because accepting the complaints of widows was a matter of greatest wisdom. “When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.” Look how laconic Luke is: he does not say how they were ordained, but only says that they were ordained with prayer. The hand is laid on the husband - this is what the ordination consists of, but God does everything. What kind of consecration did these seven men receive? Is it a deacon's? They were ordained precisely for this work, that is, to provide the believers with the necessary needs. “The number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem.” He didn’t just say this, but in such a way that he showed how great the power of alms and this institution of deacons is. Acts 6:8–15. And Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Some of the so-called synagogue of the Libertines and Cyreneans and Alexandrians and some of Cilicia and Asia entered into dispute with Stephen; but they could not resist the wisdom and the Spirit by whom he spoke. Then they taught some to say: We heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God. And they aroused the people and the elders and the scribes and, attacking, seized him and took him to the Sanhedrin. And they presented false witnesses who said: This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and against the law. For we heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth would destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us. And everyone sitting in the Sanhedrin, looking at him, saw his face like the face of an Angel. Look how out of seven one was preferred to the others: although the ordination was common, this one acquired great grace. Notice also that until that time he had not worked miracles, but began to work miracles when he became known as chosen and ordained, in order to show that grace alone is not enough, but ordination is also necessary. So, through the laying on of hands the increase of the Spirit was communicated, because even before the ordination, at the time of election, he was testified as being filled with the Spirit, but the gifts of the Spirit are different. "Entered an argument with Stefan". In irritation and anger they argue in order to force him to say something. And he, perhaps, talked very frankly and spoke about ending the law, or, rather, he did not speak, but hinted, because if he had spoken clearly, then these “some” would not have needed false witnesses. But note: he does not grant himself the right to teach, but is forced to do so by those who argue with him. “Then they taught some to say.” The disputants do not testify themselves - because they would immediately be exposed that they are slandering Stephen out of envy - but they bribe others so that they do not consider this matter wrong - because they did not fear God, desecrating themselves with murder, but they turned their gaze to the opinions of people. "And they presented false witnesses who spoke." There is perjury everywhere. They didn’t want to kill simply, but according to a sentence, counting on the fact that by doing this they would undermine the good opinion of those whom they killed. They didn’t say about Stefan: “he speaks,” but “he doesn’t stop.” For we heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth (“Nazarite” is said in reproach) “will destroy this place.” This was also said about Christ: “Destroying the church” (Matthew 27:40). There was great fear between them for the church, but the accusation was double - the accusation that he intended to change customs, and that he intended to introduce other customs. “Everyone sitting in the Sanhedrin, looking at him, saw his face like the face of an angel.” God made Stephen pleasant; since he had something else to say, in order to immediately strike them with his gaze, God shone on his face, because even the faces of people filled with spiritual grace are treated with lust by those who love them, and by their enemies with reverence. You might be interested in: