Bible Commentaries
Acts 6

Verses 1-15

The story alternates between the opposition of the outside crowd and the condition of the Church in its own borders. A difficulty arose concerning the distribution of relief which had a national tone. As we consider the story it is very arresting to notice that whereas the complaint had come from the Greeks, all those appointed in the new diaconate bore Grecian names.

In this connection it is declared that "the Word of God increased," "and the number of the disciples multiplied." One of those elected, Stephen, was a remarkable man; as the chronicler says, he was "full of grace and power." His witness brought on him bitter attack, which was popular rather than priestly, the first manifestation of this kind of opposition.