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| 1 But, in these days, the disciples, multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, in that, their widows, were being overlooked in the daily ministry. |
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 And the Twelve, calling near the throng of the disciples, said–It doth not seem, right, that, we, forsaking the word of God, should be ministering unto 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 But look out for yourselves, brethren, seven men from among you, who can be well-attested, full of Spirit and wisdom,–whom we will appoint over this need; |
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, unto prayer and unto the ministry of the word, will give constant attention. |
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 word was pleasing in the sight of all the throng; and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith and Holy Spirit, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicholaus, 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, praying, they laid upon them their hands. |
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, went on growing, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem continued to multiply exceedingly; a great multitude of the priests also, were becoming obedient unto 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 Now, Stephen, full of favour and power, began to do great wonders and signs 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 But there rose up certain of those out of the synagogue which is called [the synagogue] of them of Libertium and Cyrene and Alexandria, and certain of them from Cilicia and 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 could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking, |
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 set on men who were saying–We have heard him speaking profane things against Moses and 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, coming upon him, they caught him away, and led him into the high-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 they set up false witnesses, who said–This man, ceaseth not speaking things 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 saying–This Jesus the Nazarene, will overthrow this place, and will change the customs which, Moses, delivered unto us. |
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| 15 And, looking steadfastly at him, all they who were sitting in the high-council, saw his face, as if the face of a messenger; |
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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