Verses 1-4: Growth, Tension, and Godly Priorities

¹ Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service. ² The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables. ³ Therefore select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. ⁴ But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.”

• God’s work can multiply while real needs still emerge:

  The chapter begins with genuine growth (“the number of the disciples was multiplying”) alongside a concrete failure in care (“their widows were neglected”). Theologically, this teaches that spiritual vitality and numerical increase do not eliminate the church’s responsibility to notice inequities, repent of practical neglect, and pursue justice and mercy within the household of faith.

• Unity requires truth-telling and humble listening across cultural lines:

  The complaint is described plainly, including the groups involved (“Hellenists” and “Hebrews”), which underscores that the apostolic community does not deny tensions. Instead, it treats them as matters that must be addressed. This supports a theology of reconciliation where the church seeks peace through honest acknowledgement and shared commitment to faithful practice.

• The ministry of the word and the ministry of mercy are both essential, but not identical:

  The apostles refuse a false choice between teaching and serving; rather, they recognize calling and stewardship: “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables.” This affirms that the church’s life includes proclamation and compassionate administration, and that faithfulness sometimes requires distributing responsibilities so that neither the word nor mercy is diminished.

• Church leadership should be Spirit-formed and publicly credible:

  The seven are to be “of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom.” Theologically, competence alone is not enough for church oversight; character, spiritual maturity, and discernment are required. “Good report” points to a life that commends the gospel, while “full of the Holy Spirit” and “of wisdom” points to divine empowerment shaping practical decisions.

• The congregation participates meaningfully in discerning servants for ministry:

  “Therefore select from among you, brothers” indicates the whole community has a real role in identifying qualified servants. This supports a balanced view of church life in which God works through ordered leadership (“whom we may appoint”) and through the responsible participation of the people, without reducing the process to mere human preference.

• Prayer undergirds the church’s mission, not as an accessory but as a priority:

  The apostles commit: “we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.” This locates spiritual authority and fruitfulness in dependence on God. Theologically, prayer is not simply preparatory; it is a continuing posture of reliance through which God sustains the church’s teaching, unity, and endurance.

Verses 5-7: Recognized Servants, Apostolic Blessing, and Gospel Increase

⁵ These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch; ⁶ whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. ⁷ The word of God increased and the number of the disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

• Good spiritual governance can restore peace and strengthen mission:

  “These words pleased the whole multitude” suggests a resolution that the community recognized as wise and fair. Theologically, practical reforms in service are not distractions from mission; when pursued in love and wisdom, they can deepen unity and remove obstacles that hinder witness.

• God supplies gifts through identifiable people within the community:

  The church “chose Stephen” and the others by name, showing that God’s care often comes through concrete callings embodied in particular servants. Stephen is highlighted as “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit,” teaching that trust in God and the Spirit’s fullness equip believers not only for internal service but also for courageous public witness.

• Ordination-like commissioning joins congregational recognition with apostolic oversight:

  They “set [them] before the apostles,” and “When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.” Theologically, this reflects ordered ministry: the community identifies, and established leaders confirm through prayerful commissioning. The laying on of hands signifies blessing, solidarity, and a recognized entrusting of responsibility to serve in the church’s name.

• The word advances when the church keeps both proclamation and care healthy:

  The outcome is explicit: “The word of God increased” and disciples multiplied greatly. Theological emphasis falls on God’s own efficacy through the word, yet it also shows that faithful structures (so that prayer, the word, and mercy are all attended) can serve as instruments through which God brings growth.

• Even unlikely groups may be drawn into obedience through God’s working:

  “A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith” highlights that God’s call reaches into established religious structures. Theologically, conversion is described as “obedient to the faith,” indicating that genuine faith is not mere opinion but a lived yielding to God’s truth—an obedience that is enabled by grace and expressed through response.

Verses 8-10: Spirit-Empowered Witness and Unanswerable Wisdom

⁸ Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹ But some of those who were of the synagogue called “The Libertines”, and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen. ¹⁰ They weren’t able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.

• God confirms the gospel through Spirit-given power as he chooses:

  Stephen “performed great wonders and signs,” which presents miracles as divine acts accompanying the witness of the early church. Theologically, signs are not ends in themselves; they point beyond the messenger to God’s living power, strengthening testimony and calling people to consider Jesus’ lordship.

• Faithful witness regularly meets organized, public resistance:

  Opposition comes through disputation from various groups, indicating that the gospel’s advance provokes debate and conflict, not because truth is weak, but because human hearts and institutions may resist the implications of Christ’s authority. This prepares believers to expect challenge without interpreting it as God’s absence.

• The Spirit grants wisdom that surpasses merely natural argumentation:

  They “weren’t able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.” Theologically, this links Christian apologetic strength to the Spirit’s presence rather than to human cleverness alone. Believers speak responsibly and thoughtfully, yet the deepest effectiveness belongs to God, who supplies wisdom and convicts as he wills.

Verses 11-15: False Accusations, Religious Trial, and God-Given Composure

¹¹ Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” ¹² They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and came against him and seized him, then brought him in to the council, ¹³ and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law. ¹⁴ For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” ¹⁵ All who sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face like it was the face of an angel.

• Opposition to truth often shifts from debate to deception:

  When argument fails, opponents “secretly induced men” and “set up false witnesses.” Theologically, this reveals a recurring pattern of sinful resistance: rather than submitting to truth, people may manipulate testimony and public sentiment. The church must therefore pursue integrity, expecting that faithfulness can attract misrepresentation.

• The gospel confronts misplaced trust in institutions, even sacred ones:

  The accusations focus on “this holy place and the law,” and claim change regarding “the customs which Moses delivered.” Theologically, the conflict anticipates a key biblical theme: God’s saving action in Jesus fulfills and reorients old-covenant patterns. This does not require contempt for Moses or the law; rather, it exposes how devotion can become distorted when people treat sacred gifts as ultimate instead of receiving them as pointing to God’s deeper purposes.

• God can grant peace and dignity to his servants in the midst of injustice:

  Stephen’s face appears “like it was the face of an angel.” Theologically, this portrays divine consolation and spiritual steadiness under trial. It does not deny the reality of suffering; it shows that God can sustain believers with a visible composure that bears witness to a higher reality even when earthly courts are unjust.

• Discipleship may involve costly public testimony under pressure:

  Stephen is seized and brought before the council, showing that following Christ can lead to formal accusation and social hostility. Theologically, this prepares believers to endure hardship without despair, trusting that God remains present and active even when obedience leads into conflict.

Conclusion: Acts 6 portrays a church that faces internal strain and external hostility without abandoning the gospel’s priorities. Through Spirit-filled wisdom, shared responsibility, prayerful commissioning, and steadfast proclamation, the community grows in both compassion and witness. Stephen’s ministry and suffering also foreshadow that God advances his word not only through peace and multiplication, but also through faithful endurance when truth is opposed and servants of Christ are falsely accused.