Acts Chapter Six
READ IT:
The Choosing of the Seven
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Stephen Seized
8 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. 10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.
11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”
12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13 They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”
15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
WRITE IT:
Copy the verse that had the biggest impact on you from chapter three either onto a notecard or into a journal and come back to it as often as you can today.
ANSWER:
What were the two qualities that the twelve disciples stated the chosen seven were to be full of? (verse 3)
Verse 10 says that “they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke”. Think about this verse for a few minutes and journal what it means to you.
THINK ABOUT IT:
Set a timer for 10 minutes (put away all phones, books, music, tv - any kind of distraction) and just yield. Listen. Be still.
What is the Lord speaking to you today? Journal your answers in a notebook.
CLOSING PRAYER:
God, thank you today for your unending grace. You have sent your son to show us the way to live and have given us the gift of your Holy Spirit to guide us in the here and now—both a precious gift that we are so thankful for. Please continue to lead us and guide us. Illuminate the parts of your word that You would have us learn today. In Your name, amen.
