Acts 6:2-4 2So, after gathering the assembly of disciples together, the twelve said, “It is not pleasing for us, in neglecting the word of God, to wait on tables. 3Brothers [and sisters], choose seven persons from among you who bear witness of being full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can put in charge for this need, 4and we will devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
The twelve apostles (Matthias is included as the twelfth) met together to discuss the issue of what to do about the neglected Hellenistic widows. Verse 2 introduces how they viewed the issue: they thought it was a matter of being too busy. The core issue was one of priority, but as in many cases, priority is influenced by limited resources, including time and energy. The apostles had prioritized the Hebraic widows over the Hellenistic widows, and this was not good. The Hellenistic Jews were brave enough to raise the issue. Thankfully, the apostles noticed the issue and sought the counsel of one another and all the rest of the disciples for a solution. This meeting is the first evidence of a council of some type in the early church, though that does not mean there were not other general administrative meetings before this.
The apostles looked at the situation and made an assessment of the problem. They felt their highest priority should not be compassionate ministry of serving food but preaching the word of God. They viewed their position as the keepers of the truth and the spiritual leaders of the church. They were also responsible for administering the funds given for the ministry. Their time and energy could not be divided, or their spiritual ministry would suffer. Administration can be a heavy and time-consuming responsibility.
The apostles came up with a solution that would help the situation and preserve their need to preach the gospel and tell the story of Jesus. Their solution was simple: divide the work. To do that, however, they needed to find qualified people. They considered the ministry to widows important enough that their criteria for leadership in this ministry were high. Choosing seven persons would provide a “perfect number” for such a ministry, using the symbolic number for perfection. The number seven is generic, but all the persons chosen were men since the leadership of the church in that culture and time was still male-dominated. Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 3:11 about women who served in the church.
The seven men chosen had to show evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit and were wise leaders. Their lives should show evidence of the Spirit’s presence and their obedience. The specific evidence is not stated, but looking at the larger context of the early part of Acts, this evidence would include prayer, love, unity, compassion, and a willingness to witness about Jesus. They also needed to have wisdom. This word is also not described in detail but likely included the spiritual quality of honoring God and the human qualities of common sense, decision making, and awareness of various issues. It is highly likely that all seven who were chosen were Hellenistic believers who knew the needs of their widows. They could make the necessary decisions about who, when, and how to distribute resources to meet the widows’ needs.
This idea would allow the apostles to focus on their primary priority of preaching the word. Both ministries were important in their own way, and the apostles recognized that. They believed they were the ones responsible for preaching and teaching the words of Jesus, who had given them clear directions about this. There are many lessons in this story for the church today. A division of labor within the church will most effectively expand its mission to reach the lost and care for its members. Those gifted and called to preach, but are given the time and resources to do that. Preaching God’s word is not easy and requires prayer, careful preparation, and Spirit-led presentation. Compassionate ministry is also vital in the church and should not be approached lightly or casually. Those who serve in this ministry must be highly qualified by being filled with the Spirit and wise so that the limited resources of the church can be used for those in most need. All ministry must be guided by the Holy Spirit and be pleasing to God.
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