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Acts 6:4–7
“‘We will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.’ And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them” (vv. 4–6).
For the better ordering of the church and the care of the physical needs of the Hellenist Christian widows in Jerusalem, the Apostles told the believers to select seven men “of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom,” for the task of serving tables (Acts 6:1–3). The church has historically seen this text as giving part of the foundation for the office of deacon, with deacons continuing the work of meeting the physical needs of the church and the elders continuing to focus on teaching and prayer (v. 4). Luke does not actually refer to any of the seven men who were selected as a “deacon” (vv. 5–6), but the duties laid out in Acts 6 fit well with other New Testament passages on elders and deacons (e.g., 1 Tim. 3:1–13), so the text is important for our understanding of these church offices.
As we consider Acts 6:1–7, let us note two key theological and practical truths. First, the very fact that the Apostles, as emissaries of Christ, call for the ordination of men who will focus on the physical needs of the congregation demonstrates God’s concern for our physical well-being. The Lord cares not only about our spiritual needs but also about the needs of our physical bodies. The church must do so also, focusing its attention in particular on the plight of widows and orphans, defenseless people to whom God would have us show special care (Ex. 22:22; James 1:27). Second, the deacons’ job in caring for physical needs and the elders’ work in attending to spiritual needs should be seen not in terms of a strict separation but in terms of emphasis. In other words, it is not that the deacons can never deal with spiritual needs (indeed, Stephen preaches a lengthy sermon in Acts 7:1–53); rather, the emphasis of their office is on physical needs. Likewise, elders can address physical concerns even though the emphasis of their office is on spiritual needs.
Acts 6:5 gives us the names of the seven men chosen to care for the Hellenist Christian widows in Jerusalem. Luke will tell us more about Philip and Stephen in succeeding chapters, but we know almost nothing for certain about the other men. Once the men were selected, the Apostles laid their hands on them. The account gives us a pattern for how the church should be governed. In Acts 6:1–7, the laity propose men who fit the godly qualifications for office, effectively selecting their leaders, and then existing officers ordain the new officers to their tasks. Since we have a say in who governs the church, let us take care to nominate for church offices only those of godly character.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
In the laying on of hands, the church demonstrates that elders and deacons have been set apart by God to lead the church. In so doing, we are also presenting these officers to God, asking Him to empower them and to bless their work. John Calvin comments on today’s passage that “the apostles now lay their hands upon the deacons, that they may know that they are offered to God.”
For further study
- Numbers 27:12–23
- Acts 9:1–18
- 1 Timothy 5:22
- 2 Timothy 1:6–7
The bible in a year
- Numbers 34–35
- Mark 10:35–52