61 Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews , because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. 2 So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said , "It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables . 3 "Therefore , brethren , select from among you seven men of good reputation , full of the Spirit and of wisdom , whom we may put in charge of this task . 4 "But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word ." 5 The statement found approval with the whole congregation ; and they chose Stephen , a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit , and Philip , Prochorus , Nicanor , Timon , Parmenas and Nicolas , a proselyte from Antioch . 6 And these they brought before the apostles ; and after praying , they laid their hands on them. 7 The word of God kept on spreading ; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem , and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith .
8 And Stephen , full of grace and power , was performing great wonders and signs among the people . 9 But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen , including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians , and some from Cilicia and Asia , rose up and argued with Stephen . 10 But they were unable e to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 6:1-10
Commentary on Acts 6:1-7
(Read Acts 6:1-7)
Hitherto the disciples had been of one accord; this often had been noticed to their honour; but now they were multiplied, they began to murmur. The word of God was enough to take up all the thoughts, cares, and time of the apostles. The persons chosen to serve tables must be duly qualified. They must be filled with gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost, necessary to rightly managing this trust; men of truth, and hating covetousness. All who are employed in the service of the church, ought to be commended to the Divine grace by the prayers of the church. They blessed them in the name of the Lord. The word and grace of God are greatly magnified, when those are wrought upon by it, who were least likely.
Commentary on Acts 6:8-15
(Read Acts 6:8-15)
When they could not answer Stephen's arguments as a disputant, they prosecuted him as a criminal, and brought false witnesses against him. And it is next to a miracle of providence, that no greater number of religious persons have been murdered in the world, by the way of perjury and pretence of law, when so many thousands hate them, who make no conscience of false oaths. Wisdom and holiness make a man's face to shine, yet will not secure men from being treated badly. What shall we say of man, a rational being, yet attempting to uphold a religious system by false witness and murder! And this has been done in numberless instances. But the blame rests not so much upon the understanding, as upon the heart of a fallen creature, which is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Yet the servant of the Lord, possessing a clear conscience, cheerful hope, and Divine consolations, may smile in the midst of danger and death.