Navigating Cultural and Spiritual Conflict in Acts: Lessons on Compassion and Delegation
The Acts of the Apostles depict a scenario of conflict between Hebrews and Hellenists, leading to the exclusion of Greek-speaking widows. The response involved addressing cultural biases through the appointment of Greek-speaking Deacons, highlighting the importance of prioritizing spiritual matters over administrative tasks and the significance of combining spiritual discernment with practical wisdom in leadership.
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Acts 6: Deacons and Disputes Cultural and Spiritual Conflict
Hebrews vs. Hellenists Hellenists = Dispersion Hebrews Greek-speaking Jews from the = Hebrew-speaking locals from Judah The two cultures had been in conflict for centuries since the time of the Maccabees and Greek culture was often regarded as impure, not kosher or inferior in some way. The apostles and their immediate friends tended to be Hebrews since they were locals. The leadership had become ethnically unbalanced and people were falling between the cracks
Widows The Applied Gospel See:1Timothy 5:3-16, James 1:27-2:26 The Gospel is not just a set of doctrines to be thought about. It includes commandments to be lived out and to be obeyed. Love and honor were not mere sentiments, they were action words. Love included compassion.Honor also included financial remuneration. Widows were helped as an example of pure and undefiled religion since the person got nothing back in return. Some widows seem to have made religious vows. helping and acts of
Lopsided Compassion The Hebrew widows were cared for while the Greek-speaking widows were being left out. It is surprisingly easy to become cliquish and to exclude those not like us . This is often more out of carelessness that out of overt prejudice (we get naturally more information about needs from within our own group). The only way to ensure fairness is by developing: a) good communication, b) having a system of some sort to make sure that the gaps are plugged. The communication problem was solved by using Greek- speaking Deacons.
Priorities: Spiritual Over Administrative The priority for the apostles was attention to the Word of God and prayer. Distraction is one of the tools of the Devil. Spiritual leaders do not necessarily have to be adept administrators, rather the spiritual leader has to maintain the spiritual tone of the church/missions agency etc. They delegated the administration to Deacons or Servers. Good delegation: a) frees up the leadership, b) draws more people into the ministry. They delegated men who were godly, who spoke Greek and who were acceptable to the Hellenists.The choosing was done by the Hellenists.
Full Of The Spirit and Wisdom The Apostles gave the criteria for choosing deacons (full of the Spirit and wisdom) while the Hellenists made the choice within those criteria. This resulted in: a) spiritual balance b) ownership of the leaders by the community Apostolic criteria + local choice became the pattern in Timothy,Titus,and so on. We need BOTH a solid spiritual life and good solid human capabilities such as intelligence and wisdom.
Ordination of the Deacons These they set before the Apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. (---Acts 6:6) Deacons are defined further in: 1 Timothy 3:8-12 and female deaconesses in:1Timothy 2:12. Traditionally led to the three-layer structure of ordination: bishops, teaching ordained deacons. See: Philippians 1:1 for ordained deacons.Deacons are always plural a team. Biblically laying on of hands is associated with the impartation of a spiritual gift rather than an ecclesiastical office.An impartation and an anointing for leadership. elders (pastors) and
Obedience Leads To Blessing And the word of God continued to increase,and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. (---Acts 6:7) Once the dispute is resolved and justice and unity are restored to the community than growth occurs. Injustice and division will stop spiritual growth. We need to immediately resentment and disunity in the body of Christ. Do not just silence the grumblers listen and see if they actually have a genuine issue then fix the problem! address any causes of
A Greek-Speaking Miracle Worker! And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. (---Acts 6:8) Stephen was: a) not one of theTwelve b) not part of the Hebrew-speaking group However Stephen is doing great wonders and signs so the Apostolic anointing had clearly passed over to him and he was now evangelizing a less-evangelized group the immigrant Greek-speaking Jews. This was a sign that the Gospel was no longer ethnically confined. A hint that the gospel would soon reach the Gentiles.
Signs and Wonders Great miracles that testify to Christ and which lead to evangelization and the growth of faith. Signs: Gk: semion signify something e.g. the arrival of a prophet, that God is with someone (Moses, Jesus), or the deliverance of that nation or the destruction of the wicked this will be a sign to you.. improbable miracle that points to a new spiritual reality e.g. changing water into wine was the first of Jesus signs. It is a very Wonder: Gk: terata an ominous miracle that causes astonishment. Such as the calming of the storm (Mark 6:51) or numerous major miracles (Matthew 15:31) or an astonishing judgment (Jeremiah 44:12).
The Freedmen Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. (---Acts 6:9) The Greek-speaking Jews from the insecure middle-class (former slaves now freed) seem to have been threatened by Stephen sheep-stealing / evangelizing from their synagogue and caring for the widows they were neglecting. Stephen was a direct threat to their patch . Also they tended to be always proving their Jewishness.
Wisdom & Spirit -1 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. (---Acts 6:10) The Holy Spirit gives supernatural wisdom as one of His gifts, especially wisdom in the Scriptures and in ministry. But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake.This will be your opportunity to bear witness.Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. (---Luke 21:12-15)
Wisdom & Spirit - 2 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,... (---1 Corinthians 12:7-8) 1Corinthians 2:6-7: Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age,who are doomed to pass away.But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God,which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 1Corinthians 2:13: human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. And we impart this in words not taught by
Spirit & Wisdom - 3 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason,full of mercy and good fruits,impartial and sincere. (---James 3:17) If any of you lacks wisdom,let him ask God,who gives generously to all without reproach,and it will be given him. (---James 1:5) And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,... (---Colossians 1:9) I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,... (---Ephesians 1:16-17)
Blasphemy Laws Then they secretly instigated men who said, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God." And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council,...(---Acts 6:11-12) Blasphemy laws are used to silence Christians in many countries e.g.Pakistan,Iran etc. When they cannot convict someone of an actual crime they stir up people secretly by accusing them of disrespecting a prophet, a holy book or a religious institution.
Council The Jewish Sanhedrin,traditionally 71 aristocratic married men, of great seniority in the faith and dominated by Scribes and Sadducees but also with some Pharisees such as Gamaliel.Led by the High Priest (Annas and Caiaphas). There were also two lesser Sanhedrin of 23 members. Also a generic term for Senate, High Court, or tribunal, sometimes used for any court or judgment seat. . . . the Sanhedrin in the NT is generally the Great Sanhedrin. Joseph of Arimethea and Nicodemus were members. Paul may have been a member of or an official to the Sanhedrin.
False Witnesses . . .and they set up false witnesses who said, "This man never ceases to speak words 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 delivered to us. (---Acts 6:13-14) This was a deliberate misrepresentation of the NT teaching that God does not dwell in temples. (Acts 7:48-50, 17:24,25, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19, 2Cor 6:16) Stephen was giving the inner spiritual interpretation of the law as the voice of the Spirit rather than as human customs .
Angelic Features The infilling of the Spirit can result in a visible change of countenance. This was a testimony against them they could plainly see that Stephen was a man of God! Like Moses whose face glowed! . . . not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. .But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (---2 Corinthians 3:13-18)
