Friday, October 27, 2023

On the Road from Jerusalem: A Study of Acts (Problem Solved - Acts 6:1-15)

In this series, we're using the Acts of the Apostles to discuss the growth of the earlier church from its birth in the city of Jerusalem to Paul’s arrival in Rome. During our time together, we’ll look at the following:

  • Session 1 - Preparing for the Journey (Acts 1:1-2)
  • Session 2 - Transition (Acts 1:3-26)
  • Session 3 - Birth (Acts 2:1-47)
  • Session 4 - The Work Begins (Acts 3:1-26)
  • Session 5 - When Faced with Opposition (Acts 4:1-26)
  • Session 6 - But... (Acts 5:1-42)
  • Session 7 - Problem Solved (Acts 6:1-15)
  • Session 8 - When Something Bad Happens (Acts 7:1-60)
  • Session 9 - Step Two (Acts 8:1-40)
  • Session 10 - Saul (Acts 9:1-43)
  • Session 11 - Clean People (Acts 10:1-48)
  • Session 12 - Phase Three Begins (Acts 11:1-30)
  • Session 13 - Even Above Kings (Acts 12:1-25)
  • Session 14 - The New Kid Takes the Stage (Acts 13:1-52)
  • Session 15 - Approaching a New Community (Acts 14:1-28)
  • Session 16 - Issue Resolved (Acts 15:1-41)
  • Session 17 -  A New World (Acts 16:1-40)
  • Session 18 - Know Your Audience (Acts 17:1-34)
  • Session 19 - The Big Time (Acts 18:1-28)
  • Session 20 - Christ and Culture (Acts 19:1-41)
  • Session 21 - Farewell (Acts 20:1-38)
  • Session 22 - Jerusalem (Acts 21:1-40)
  • Session 23 - A Personal Testimony (Acts 22:1-30)
  • Session 24 - The Plot Thickens (Acts 23:1-35)
  • Session 25 - The Way Continues (Acts 24:1-27)
  • Session 26 - Different Singer, Same Song (Acts 25:1-27)
  • Session 27 - A Message to God’s People (Acts 26:1-32)
  • Session 28 - Will He Make It (Acts 27:1-44)
  • Session 29 - Without Hindrance (Acts 28:1-31)

In our seventh session, we looked at the appointment of the first seven deacons (Acts 6:1-15). The discussion and passage are below:

Acts 6:1-15 [New Revised Standard Version]

Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.” What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. Then they secretly instigated some men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. They set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us.” And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

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