Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition)
The First Election of Deacons. ACTS VI, VII. Stephen Arraigned before the Sanhecirir.
88; 20.21). How gloriously Is Christ here exhibited ; not, as In other places, as the Medium, but as the Dispenser of crowning the beautiful spirit which reigned in this motlier-comraunity. a great company of Ihe priests were obedient, ifec.—This was tlie crowning tiiuinpli of the Gospel, whose peaceful prosperity v/as now at its greatest height. After Stephen's teaching and trial made all spiritual blessings! 33,33. we are witnesses . . . KncI the Holy Ghost—they as competent human witnesses to facts, and the Holy Ghost as attesting them by undeniable miracles, cut to the heai-t and took ('were it clear that sacerdotal interests could not stand with the Gospel, such priestly accessions became rare indeed. Noteil.) how easily misunderstandings may arise among the most loving and devoted followers of the Lord Jesus: but (2,) How quickly and effectually such misunderstandings may be healed, where honest intentions, love and wisdom reign: (3.) Wliat a beautiful model for imitation taking') counsel to slay them—How different this feeling and the effect of it from that " pricking of the heart" which drew from the first converts on the day of Penle- • ooet the cry, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (ch.
2. 37). The words used in the two places are strikingly different. 3*. then stood up . . . Gamaliel—in all probability one of tliat name celebrated in the Jewisli writings for his wisdom, the son of Simeon (possibly the same who took the infant Saviour In his arms, Luke 2. 2-5, Ac), and grandson of Hi 1 lei, another celebrated rabbi. He died eigliteen years before the destruction of Jerusalem. [LiGHTFOOT.] 35-39. Theudag— not the same with a deceiver of that name whom Josephus mentions as heading an insurrection some twelve years after this [Antiis furnished by the class here complained of, who, though themselves the majority, chose tlie new office-bearers from amongst the complaining minoritj' ! (4.) How superior to the lust of power do the apostles here sliow themselves to be, in not only divesting themselves of the immediate superintendence of temporal affairs in the Christian community, but giving the choice of those who were to be entrusted with it to the disciples at large ! (5.) How little of formal oi-ganlzation did the apostles give to the Church at first, and when an emergency arose wliicli demanded something more, how entirely was the remedy suggested by the reason of the thing! (6.) Though the new otiice-bearers are not expressly called Deacons here, quities, 20. 5. 1], but some other of whom he makes no mention. Such insurrections were frequent. Judas of Galilee—See on Luke 2. 2, and 13. 1-3. [Josephus, AntiquUies, 13. 1. l.J If of men, it will come to naught, &e,. —This neutral policy was true wisdom, In the then temper of tlie council. But individual neutrality is hostility to Christ, as Himself teaches (Luke 11. 23). 40-4:8. befaten them—for disobeying tlieir orders (cf. Luke 23. 16). departed rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name— it is universally admitted that this was the first institution of that order in the Church ; the success of tlie expedient securing Its permanency, and the qualifications for " the office of a Deacon" being laid down in one of the apostolical Epistles immediately after those of " a Bishop"
' thought worthy by God to be dishonoured by man' (Matthew 5. 12; 1 Peter 4. li, 16). [Webster and Wilkinson.] This was their first taste of persecution, and it felt sweet for His sake whose disciples
(1 Timothy 3. 8-13.)
8-15. Stephen Arraigned before the Sanhedrim. 3. And Stephen, &c.—The foregoing narrative seems to be only an introduction to what follows, full of faitli Rattier, ' of grace,' as the best MSS, read, 9, 10. synngoffue of tile l.lbertlnes—Jewish freednieii; iiianuniitted Roman captives, or the children of such, expelled iVoiii Roiaa (as appears from Josephus and Tacitus), and now ivsiding at Jerusalem, Cyrenlans—Jewsof Cyrene, in Lihya, on I he coast of Africa, them of Cillcia—amongst wiiom may have been Saul of Tarsus (ch. 7. 5S; 21. mul of AsiaSee on ch, 16. 6, not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which lie spake—What he .said, and tlie power with wliicli he spake it, were alike resistless. H-14. blasphemous words against Moses—doulitless referring to the impending disappearance of tlie whole Mosaic system, and against God—Tliis must refer to the supreme dignity and authority which he claimed for Clirist, tliey were. In every house—or ' in private.' See on ch. 2.
46. ceased not to preach Jesus Christ—t. e., Jesus (to be the) Christ.
CHAPTER VI.
Ver. 1-7. First Election of Deacons. 1. the Grecians —the Greek-speaking Jews, mostly born in the provinces, the H«l>rcw8— those Jews born in Palestine who used their native tongue, and were wont to look down on the "Grecians" as an inferior class, were neglected—'overlooked' by those whom the apostles employed, and who were probably of the Hebrew class, as being the most numerous. The comp'aint was In all likeliliood well founded, though we cannot suspect the distributors of intentional partiality. 'It was really Just an emulation of love, each party wishing to have their own poor taken care of in the best manner.' [OI/SHAUSen.] the dally ministration-the daily distribution of alms or of food. prol)ably the latter. 8-4. the multitude — the general bodj' of the disciples. It is not reason—The word expresses dislike ; q. d., ' We cannot submit.' to leave the Word of God—to have our time and attention withdrawn from preaching; which, it thus appears, they regarded as their primary duty, to serve tables—oversee tlie distribution of provisions, look ye out (from) among you—,as tlie head of that new economy wliicli was so spci i'.ily to supersede the old (cf. ch. 7. 56, 59, 60). 15. as tlie face of an angel—a play of supernatural radiance attesting to all who beheld his couutenance the divine calm of the spirit within.
CHAPTER VII.
Ver. 1-60. Defence and Martyrdom of Stephen, In this long defence Stephen takes a much wider range, and goes less directly into the point raised by his accusers, than we should have expected. His object seems to liave been to show (1) that so far from disparaging, lie deeply reverenced, and was intimately conversant with, the whole history of the ancient economy ; and (2) that in resisting the erection of the Gospel kingdom they were hut treading in their fathers' footsteps, the wliole history of their nation being little else than one continued luisu))- prehenslon of God's high designs towards fallen man mikI rebellion against them. 1-5. The God of glory—A nimj,- nificent appellation, fitted at the very outset to rivet tlie devout attention of his audience; denoting not lluit visible glory which attended many of the Divine niaiiifestations, but the glory of those manilestations th«mi. e., ye " the multitude" from amongst yourselves, seven men of honest report—good reputation (ch. 10. 22; 1 Timothy 3. 7). full of the Holy Ghost—not full of miraculous gifts, which would have been no qualification for the duties required, but spiritually gifted; althougli on two of them miraculous power did rest, and wisdom discretion, aptitude for practical business, whom we may appoint—for while the election was vested in the Christian people, the appointment lay with tlie apostles, as spiritual rulers, we will give ourselves to prayerpublic prayer, as along with preaching their great work. Stephen, &c.—A.H this and the following names are all Greek, it is likely they were all of the "Grecian" class, which would effectually restore mutual confidence, when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them—tlie one proclaiming that all oflloial gifts flowed from the Churcn"8 glorified Hea<I, the otlier symbolizing the eommanication of these to the chosen office-bearers througti selves, of which tills was regarded by eveiy Jew as the fundamental one. It is the glory of absolutely free grace, appeared unto our father Abraham before lie dwelt in Charran, and said, &c.—Though this first call is not expressly recorded in Genesis, It is clearly imiilied in Genesis 15.7 and Nehemiah 9.7; and the Jewish writers speak the same language, when his fatlier was dead; tlie recognized channels, word of God Increased . . . diaclpira multiplied in Jerusalem greatly—prosperity