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| 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. |
Arose a murmuring – Favoritism was claimed in the distribution of the necessities. R5851:6
Showing that Communism is not the Lord's arrangement. D479
Widows were neglected – Apparently unintentional and possibly arose from the fact that the apostles, native-born, appreciated more keenly the needs of the native widows than of the foreign-born. R2951:3
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| 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. |
Then the twelve called – The apostles turned the matter over to the believers, the Church. F254
Pursuing the proper course to throw the responsibility upon the whole congregation R2951:5
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| 3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the spirit of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. |
Look ye out – Choose out from amongst you suitable men for this service. F254
This incident suggests the loose organization of the early church. It had not cast-iron rules and laws. The necessities of each case seem to have guided. R5951:2
Seven men – They elected such deacons as were considered necessary under the circumstances. Q242:4
May appoint – They appointed seven Deacons to attend to the charities. R5851:6
Probably a vote of the church. R1891:3
You are choosing servants (ministers) and not rulers or masters. R1891:3, 1523:5, 2951:2
Some of those chosen for the serving of tables were representative of the Grecian brethren who, knowing the peculiarities of the Grecian customs, would be the better able to see to the welfare of the Grecian widows. R2951:6
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| 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. |
Continually to prayer – Take time to pray. R5379:3*
To the ministry – To spiritual oversight of the early church. R1432:2
Rather than to managing a community along earthly lines, they decided to give themselves entirely to the Gospel work. R5851:6
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| 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: 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 Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: |
Chose Stephen – A deacon--minister or servant--for the temporal interests of the Church. R2108:3, 1523:5, 1432:2
Philip – One of those whom the persecution drove out of Jerusalem. R2960:2
He attended not only to the distribution of the natural food, but by feeding of his own heart upon the spiritual food prepared himself for further service of a more spiritual kind. R2960:2
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| 6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. |
Their hands on them – In the early church the laying on of hands was used to indicate consent, denoted representation. R1957:4
Not as authority to preach, but as a mark of apostolic approval and blessing. F283, F284; R812:3*
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| 7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. |
Disciples multiplied – Many gladly received the word and were baptized. These were genuine conversions, and gave evidence of a spirit of sacrifice. R550:4
This gathering and establishing them in the doctrines of Christ was a necessary prelude to the persecution which shortly followed. R2108:2
Obedient to the faith – Of one mind and full of hope and joy. R550:4
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| 8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. |
Full of faith – Faith working by love had produced zeal for the Lord and his cause. Oldest manuscripts read, "Full of grace." R2108:3
Stephen, faithful in the service of tables, was blessed of the Lord and granted opportunities for the exercise of his zeal and talents in a more public manner in preaching the Gospel. F254
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| 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. |
The synagogue – It is supposed that Stephen was attached to one of these synagogues and urged upon his associates the message that Jesus was the Messiah. R5858:1
Of them of Cilicia – Possibly including Saul of Tarsus. R2952:3, 5858:1
Disputing – The disputants represented advanced philosophies of that day, combined with Judaism. R2108:5
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| 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. |
Not able to resist – As a religious logician he met with the learned men of his time, including Saul. R2108:5
"I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist." (Luke 21:15) R2952:2
The same principle is illustrated today, when the Lord's humble ones are more than a match for their adversaries. R2952:2
Wisdom and the spirit – All of their philosophy could not cope with the wisdom and spirit of the truth. R2108:5
Those chosen for service today should be the best and wisest, and possessing a holy, meek and quiet spirit. R2951:6
By which he spake – Stephen had the truth, the right side of the controversy, and God was with him. R2952:2
The Lord recognized Stephen as an Elder before the brethren discovered his ability; but he could not have taught in the Church unless so chosen by the Church. F254; R2951:6
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| 11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. |
Suborned men – Procured witnesses. R5208:6
They bribed certain men to make false charges. R5858:2, 4328:5, 2108:6
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| 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, |
Stirred up – Being unable to resist the wisdom by which he spoke, they were the more infuriated against him. R1432:3
The elders, and the scribes – The official representatives of the Sanhedrin. R2108:6
Many have supposed that Stephen met his death at the hands of a mob. But this is incorrect. R2108:6
Caught him – As though caught in the very act of blasphemy. R2108:6
To the council – Or place of trial. R4328:5
The Sanhedrin, of which it is supposed Saul of Tarsus was a member. R2952:4, 5858:4, 2958:4, 2109:2, 1432:3
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| 13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: |
False witnesses – Misrepresenting the words and arguments of Stephen. R2108:6, 5858:2
Blasphemous words – Blasphemy in that day was the worst of crimes. R4328:5
This holy place – The temple. R1432:2, 2952:4
Jerusalem, and especially its holy Temple, which sanctified it. R2957:3
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| 14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. |
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| 15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. |
Saw his face – As he mentally remarked the correspondence between the charges against him, and those upon which his Master was convicted. R2952:4
The face – Serene, calm, unperturbed. R2502:6
The peace and joy of his heart shone from his eyes and so illuminated his whole countenance. R1432:3
His face was so wonderfully lit up with the indwelling of joy. R2952:5
Beaming with love, kindness, interest in their welfare, desire to do them good, purity, holiness of motive. R2109:1
There is an inspiration of the heart and an illumination of the features which accommodates the presentation of the truth. R4328:6
Of an angel – Messenger of the good tidings, servant of the truth. R4328:6, 2958:2
His heart was so provoked to love and good works that his face shone with an angelic beauty. R4078:4
Radiant, beautiful, lovelit, happy, aglow, angelic. E161, E162; R4328:6, 2958:2
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