Acts 6: Serving Together and Stephen's Witness
Seven are chosen to serve, and Stephen's bold witness begins to stir opposition.
Acts 6 (WEB)
1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service.
2 The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables.
3 Therefore select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4 But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.”
5 These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch;
6 whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
7 The word of God increased and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
8 Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.
9 But some of those who were of the synagogue called “The Libertines”, and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen.
10 They weren’t able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”
12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and came against him and seized him, and brought him in to the council,
13 and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.
14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us.”
15 All who sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face like it was the face of an angel.
Acts 6 (KJV)
1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
Acts 6 (ASV)
1 Now in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
2 And the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not fit that we should forsake the word of God, and serve tables.
3 Look ye out therefore, brethren, from among you seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4 But we will continue stedfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word.
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus a proselyte of Antioch;
6 whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands upon them.
7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, wrought great wonders and signs among the people.
9 But there arose certain of them that were of the synagogue called [the synagogue] of the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.
10 And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake.
11 Then they suborned men, who said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and [against] God.
12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and seized him, and brought him into the council,
13 and set up false witnesses, who said, This man ceaseth not to speak words against this holy place, and the law:
14 for we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered unto us.
15 And all that sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
Summary
As the church grows, a complaint arises that some widows are being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. The apostles invite the community to choose seven trusted, Spirit-filled people — including Stephen and Philip — to oversee this work so the apostles can devote themselves to prayer and teaching. The arrangement allows the word of God to spread even further. Stephen, full of grace and power, performs wonders and speaks with such wisdom that opponents resort to false accusations and have him arrested.
Main Characters
- The apostles — Delegate practical service so they can focus on prayer and the word.
- Stephen — A man full of faith and the Spirit whose witness provokes opposition.
- Philip — One of the seven chosen to serve, later a noted evangelist.
- The seven — Trusted servants appointed to care for the community's practical needs.
Key Verse
Acts 6:4 (WEB)
But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.”
Lessons Learned
- Healthy communities share responsibility rather than overburdening a few.
- Practical service and spiritual leadership are both essential to the church.
- Caring for those who are overlooked is central to the life of God's people.
- Faithful witness can attract opposition as well as admiration.
- Delegate to multiply. When leaders entrust qualified people with specific responsibilities, the whole body is freed to grow — just as the apostles' delegation led to the word of God spreading further (Acts 6:7, WEB).
- Character precedes task. The seven were chosen not merely for competence but because they were of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom — inner formation equips outward service (Acts 6:3, WEB).
- Practical care is sacred work. Tending to overlooked widows was not a lesser ministry; it expressed the same Spirit at work in preaching, reminding us that no act of faithful service is beneath God's calling.
- Wisdom disarms, but truth provokes. Stephen's opponents could not counter his Spirit-given wisdom, so they resorted to slander — a reminder that Spirit-empowered witness will attract both fruit and opposition (Acts 6:10–11, WEB).
- Integrity shines even under accusation. The council's own eyes testified against their case: Stephen's face appeared like an angel's, bearing witness that a life surrendered to God radiates a dignity no false charge can obscure (Acts 6:15, WEB).
- How did the apostles balance practical needs with their primary calling?
- Why does the way a community handles conflict matter so much?
- What does it say that “servants” like Stephen were full of the Spirit?
- Where do you see gifts of service being undervalued today?
- How might your community better care for those being overlooked?
- The apostles named their primary calling — prayer and the ministry of the word — and then deliberately chose others to handle what fell outside it (Acts 6:2–4, WEB). Balance came not from doing everything but from knowing what they were called to do and trusting the community with the rest.
- The community's response to the complaint revealed the health of its relationships: rather than choosing sides or dismissing the grievance, they addressed it openly and together. Conflict handled well builds trust and keeps the body unified; conflict ignored or mishandled fractures community and halts mission.
- It says that serving others is not a spiritual second tier. Stephen was chosen to wait on tables, yet he is described as full of faith, the Holy Spirit, grace, and power — the same qualities as the apostles. The Spirit fills those who serve humbly just as fully as those who preach publicly.
- Look for responses that name specific contexts — volunteers in children's ministry, behind-the-scenes administrative workers, those who set up and clean up, caregivers, hospitality teams. The goal is honest reflection on where the community overlooks or undercelebrates the people doing quiet, essential work.
- Look for concrete, actionable responses rather than generalities. Who are the overlooked in your specific context — the grieving, the financially struggling, the lonely, the immigrant, the marginalized? Good answers will name a group and a practical next step, drawing on the model of Acts 6 where a real complaint led to a structural, community-owned solution.