Quote:
Originally Posted by Nicodemus1968
Acts 6:2-4
[2] Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. [3] Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. [4] But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
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Brother, I know you aren’t going there. Okay. You’re just wanting to toss me a softball? What does this passage mean to you? Allow me to exegete.
First of all you started your quote in the middle of a story. Allow me to back up a bit. Let’s go to the first verse.
What was the “business” that the seven “men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom” were to tend to?
What business could be so crucially important that it would take up the time, effort and attention of
SEVEN pillars of the church?
The answer is hiding in plain sight, in the verses that you igno . . . Uh, pardon me, skipped over. Allow me . . .
Acts 6 King James Version (KJV)
1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews,
because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
What?! Can you believe that the widows merited so much consideration? Please understand. This was the church at Jerusalem. They were likely mostly Hebrews who were still tithing, according to the law. So the Hebrew widows were getting taken care of, as they were certainly entitled to share in the tithe. (Ironically the apostles were not Levites, so it would have been illegal for them to partake of the tithe).
Of course the Grecian widows were not legally entitled to tithes, as the Hebrew’s widows would be and had likely “fallen through the cracks” so to speak. This seems to be the issue that was being addressed.
At this point we will pick up where you began, with the solution to the problem that was so critical that it merited being included in the book of Acts of the Apostles. This is what the early apostolic church did to solve this serious issue.
Are we apostolic?
Brother, I’m not trying to keep score or anything but, how many good brethren in your church are delegated to the very important work of ministering to the widows, daily? You don’t have to answer, (because you wouldn’t, anyway).
I hope it’s at least seven? Because it’s the apostolic thing to do! Now this is where you began.
2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude:
and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
Brother, did it ever occur to you, that we know who was on the widows ministrations committee, because they are named, but we have to guess who the pastor of the church at Jerusalem was?
So, allow me to expand on one of these great brethren. Stephen was performing great wonders and miracles, well let me copy and paste . . .
8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Uh, brother, isn’t it amazing that this good brother had time to perform many miracles, Aaaand he was on the widows committee? Incredible! But, at least he wasn’t having to preach, because he sure wouldn’t have time to prepare a sermon or anything like that.
Except that he did. . . Allow me . . .
9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
In fact, he was such a great ANNOINTED speaker that, the men who wanted to kill him,
10 . . . were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
And the Council ?. . .
15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
Brother, I’m glad you brought this subject up. The ministry of Stephen was to the widows, primarily. But he didn’t let that stop him from ministering to others also.
The altar is open brother. Are you feeling convicted?
I HOPE you are NOT taking tithes from widows, because that would be
SCANDALOUS!!!!!
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