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ACTS.008
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1992-11-09
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II. THE MINISTRY OF STEPHEN, 6:1-8:3
A. THE INSTITUTION OF THE DEACONATE, 6:1-7
1. What do we have in 6:1? The first recorded discord in the early church
in the form of murmuring because of neglect, in the distribution of
benevolences to the Grecian widows.
2. Who were the:
(1) "Grecians," 6:1? They were not Greeks or Gentiles, but
Hellenists, Jews who had been born and brought up in Gentile
cities and who spoke the Greek language.
(2) "Hebrews," 6:1? They were the Jews of Jerusalem or Palestine,
who looked upon the foreign Jews as contaminated by dwelling
among the Gentiles and so regarded them as inferior.
3. Why were These "Grecians" neglected, 6:1? Probably for two reasons,.
namely.
(1) The "Hebrews" national and caste prejudice against the "Grecians".
(2) Inadequate organization for the constantly augmenting multitude of
believers.
4. Point out the apostles position in:
(1) 6:2 - That it would be unreasonable for them to neglect the
ministry of the Word in favour of correcting the neglect of the
Grecian widows.
(2) 6:3 - That the selection of qualified administrators should be made
by the people themselves and their choice endorsed by the apostles.
(3) 6:3 - That the essential qualifications of these administrators
should be:
a. Proven honesty in financial matters
b. Evident fullness of the Spirit.
c. Demonstrated wisdom in difficult situations.
(4) 6:4 - That the pressures of secondary matters should not be
allowed to interfere with the primary obligation of the ministry
of the Word.
(5) 6:4 - That the maintenance of a prayer life is essential to the
maintenance of effective ministry.
5. Where is the Spirit's power in the ministry of the Word especially
evident from 6-7? In that the great company of the priests, who were
obedient to the faith, constituted a conflict very liable to be
prejudiced against the faith which would rob them of their importance
and livelihood.
B. THE MARTYRDOM OF STEPHEN, 6:8-8:3
1. With whom, as usual, did the opposition to Stephen begin, 6:8-10?
- With the established ecclesiastical authorities whose traditional
attitudes and cherished positions came into conflict with the
God-ordained ministry of God-ordained men.
2. Who were the "Libertines," 6:9? They were Jews by birth who, after having
been brought to Rome as prisoners of war, were afterwards liberated and
allowed to return home.
3. What does 6:11-15 show? The diabolical extent to which man can go in his
obstinate resistance and the depravity of his heart.
4. To what purpose did Stephen review Jewish history with such details
and methodical precision. 7:1-53? To demonstrate the fact that the
nation's continued rejection of the oracles of God by the prophets had
finally resulted in the nation's rejection of THE oracle of God -
Jesus Christ.
5. What is to be observed from Moses in:
(1) 7:22? That Moses was highly educated and an able orator (contrast
with Ex. 4:10-12).
(2) 7:22-24? That Moses had an awareness of his divine calling before
its actual disclosure.
(3) 7:25? Not to take for granted that others understand our own
individual ministry.
(4) 7:27-28? That those who are in the wrong may falsely accuse others
to cover themselves.
6. Why does Stephen make a point about the angels in 7:53?
Because the fact that the law was given by disposition of angels
enhanced the Jews obligation to keep it, which they did not.
7. What occasioned Stephen's bitter invective in 7:51? The evident
implacable hostility of his hearers.
8. Comment on 7:54-59: Man reacts to the persuasive conviction of the
Spirit in accordance with the choice of his own will, either by
softening or hardening, by submission or resistance.
9. What is conspicuous in 7:60? Stephen's likeness to Christ who likewise
died interceding for his enemies, (Luke 23:34).
10. Who appears now on the scene in 8:1-3? Saul the persecutor "making
havoc of the church" with religious zeal.