“Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food…….
The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith….
And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freemen …..rose up and argued with Stephen. But they were unable to cope’ with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking….” Acts 6:1-10
“Growing pains.” What in the world are they? I remember in med school we used to call it a “wastebasket diagnosis”. Meaning if we cannot find a serious problem after physical, lab, and radiologic evaluation, all we’re left with is a diagnosis of exclusion. But growth pains are real, as any pediatrician can bear witness. They develop in the legs in a 3 to 10-year-old child who is active. They resolve after a good night’s rest. The physician’s prescription is to reassure the parent and to advise and encourage the child to keep active and not let up.
The body of disciples was growing by leaps and bounds, about 5 years after Pentecost. However, there were growing pains. “ But there arose a complaint on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.” Until now, the Christian community were of one heart and soul….there was not a needy person among them. (3:32-34). And now this complaint of discrimination from the Hellenistic Jews. It was a growing pain called cross-cultural ministry.
We learn from the historian, Max Dimont, in his book, Jews, God and History, “The Hellenization of the Jews began inconspicuously. First, it infected their language, manners, and customs; then it encroached upon their morals, ethics, and religion.” The exile of these Jews was self-imposed— the way of the known world was Greek. They assumed Greek names. Humility gave way to a “me first” mentality. They did not speak Aramaic, which further contributed to the confusion regarding the daily serving of food.
It was to these people that the Christian community ministered and gained converts among them while in Jerusalem.
Another growing pain was called delegation of responsibility. Up until now, the Twelve ran everything. They were in need of Jethro-like counsel, like Moses, who experienced similar growing pains. (See Exodus 18) D.L.Moody said, “that it was better to put ten men to work than to try to do the work of ten men.” The apostles had as their first priority prayer and the ministry of the Word, but that was being compromised.
So they selected the Seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, of whom Stephen was prominent. They were also all Hellenistic Jews who spoke Greek, which went a long way towards repairing the language and cultural barriers that contributed to the alleged discrimination.
A great many of the Jewish priests were becoming obedient to the faith. In this unprecedented new growth, Stephen was exploring the new ministry the Holy Spirit had given him. He even ventured to engage some of the Jews from Synagogue of the Freemen in discussion, and in so doing spread the Word of God to Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and to some from Cilicia and Asia. He shared Jesus’ teaching that we are not under the Law of Moses, but under grace through the Messiah and His sacrifice on the cross. He no doubt shared the Lord’s desire is to dwell in our hearts, not in temples made of stone. Stephen found out by experience, “Nothing in the world is more dangerous than a sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” (M.L. King, Jr.) “They were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.”
So they brought charges of blasphemy against Stephen and dragged him away to stand before the Council. “ And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.” They were about to grow way up!
Questions To Think About:
The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith….
And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freemen …..rose up and argued with Stephen. But they were unable to cope’ with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking….” Acts 6:1-10
“Growing pains.” What in the world are they? I remember in med school we used to call it a “wastebasket diagnosis”. Meaning if we cannot find a serious problem after physical, lab, and radiologic evaluation, all we’re left with is a diagnosis of exclusion. But growth pains are real, as any pediatrician can bear witness. They develop in the legs in a 3 to 10-year-old child who is active. They resolve after a good night’s rest. The physician’s prescription is to reassure the parent and to advise and encourage the child to keep active and not let up.
The body of disciples was growing by leaps and bounds, about 5 years after Pentecost. However, there were growing pains. “ But there arose a complaint on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.” Until now, the Christian community were of one heart and soul….there was not a needy person among them. (3:32-34). And now this complaint of discrimination from the Hellenistic Jews. It was a growing pain called cross-cultural ministry.
We learn from the historian, Max Dimont, in his book, Jews, God and History, “The Hellenization of the Jews began inconspicuously. First, it infected their language, manners, and customs; then it encroached upon their morals, ethics, and religion.” The exile of these Jews was self-imposed— the way of the known world was Greek. They assumed Greek names. Humility gave way to a “me first” mentality. They did not speak Aramaic, which further contributed to the confusion regarding the daily serving of food.
It was to these people that the Christian community ministered and gained converts among them while in Jerusalem.
Another growing pain was called delegation of responsibility. Up until now, the Twelve ran everything. They were in need of Jethro-like counsel, like Moses, who experienced similar growing pains. (See Exodus 18) D.L.Moody said, “that it was better to put ten men to work than to try to do the work of ten men.” The apostles had as their first priority prayer and the ministry of the Word, but that was being compromised.
So they selected the Seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, of whom Stephen was prominent. They were also all Hellenistic Jews who spoke Greek, which went a long way towards repairing the language and cultural barriers that contributed to the alleged discrimination.
A great many of the Jewish priests were becoming obedient to the faith. In this unprecedented new growth, Stephen was exploring the new ministry the Holy Spirit had given him. He even ventured to engage some of the Jews from Synagogue of the Freemen in discussion, and in so doing spread the Word of God to Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and to some from Cilicia and Asia. He shared Jesus’ teaching that we are not under the Law of Moses, but under grace through the Messiah and His sacrifice on the cross. He no doubt shared the Lord’s desire is to dwell in our hearts, not in temples made of stone. Stephen found out by experience, “Nothing in the world is more dangerous than a sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” (M.L. King, Jr.) “They were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.”
So they brought charges of blasphemy against Stephen and dragged him away to stand before the Council. “ And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.” They were about to grow way up!
Questions To Think About:
- The “wastebasket diagnosis”: In your own life or ministry, are there “growth pains” (frustration, fatigue, or minor conflicts) that you’ve dismissed as unimportant? How might these actually be the signs of healthy expansion?
- The Hellenistic widows were being overlooked, likely due to language and cultural barriers rather than malice. Who in your current community might be “invisible” or overlooked because they don’t speak the “dominant language” or share the same background?
- Jethro-like Counsel: Who are the mentors in your life who can help you see when you are hitting a bottleneck? Are you open to their “Exodus 18” style of correction?
- Stephen faced “conscientious stupidity” and “sincere ignorance.” How do you respond when your well-intentioned growth is met with unfair criticism or legalism?
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