Year of the Bible
Acts of the Apostles 6
Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 6:
Chapter 5 included St. Luke’s first use of the word “Church,” which in Greek was used to describe those who God called out, who God gathered into the assembly of His people, Israel (5:11). As the Church grows in Jerusalem, tensions increase, especially between Jews of different ethnicities (vs. 1). The Hellenists (Jews who had lived outside of Palestine and spoke Greek as a native language) had migrated to Jerusalem and were now a minority group within the Church in Jerusalem. The Twelve gather the Church and address the problem by instructing the community to select seven men (all with Greek names, likely Hellenist Jews) for a ministry of service (diakonia, in Greek) (vs. 2-3). We see the gestures of ordination (vs. 6) as they are sent forth in ministry. God uses this situation of conflict to bring for the spread of the Gospel in new ways! One of the newly ordained, Stephen, is able to be uniquely successful preaching in Hellenist synagogues (vs. 8-10) and many of the Levite priests also become believers (vs. 7).
The Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 6:
Seven Chosen to Serve
1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the Twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said 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 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them.
7 And the word of God in creased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
The Arrest of Stephen
8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, arose and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. 11 Then they secretly instigated men, who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, 13 and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak 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 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
In 15 short verses, this chapter moves from selecting Stephen as the first deacon to his martyrdom. Lord, as I pray to be shown where you want me to serve, help me also prepare to bear the cost of discipleship with joy.
Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this.
If you're looking for a good Catholic edition of the Bible, look no further.
1 En aquellos días, al crecer el número
de los discípulos, se levantó una queja
de los helenistas contra los hebreos, porque
sus viudas estaban desatendidas en la
asistencia diaria. 2 Los doce convocaron a la
multitud de los discípulos y les dijeron:
–No es conveniente que nosotros
abandonemos la palabra de Dios para
servir las mesas. 3 Escoged, hermanos,
de entre vosotros a siete hombres de
buena fama, llenos de Espíritu y de sabiduría,
a los que designemos para esta
tarea. 4 Mientras, nosotros nos dedicaremos
asiduamente a la oración y al ministerio
de la palabra.
5 La propuesta agradó a toda la
asamblea y eligieron a Esteban, hombre
lleno de fe y del Espíritu Santo, a Felipe,
a Prócoro, a Nicanor, a Timón, a Parmenas
y a Nicolás, prosélito de Antioquía.
6 Los presentaron ante los apóstoles
y orando les impusieron las manos.
7 La palabra de Dios se propagaba,
y aumentaba considerablemente el número
de discípulos en Jerusalén, y gran
cantidad de sacerdotes obedecían a la fe.
8 Esteban, lleno de gracia y de poder,
hacía grandes prodigios y señales entre
el pueblo. 9 Se levantaron a discutir con
Esteban algunos de la sinagoga llamada
de los libertos, de los cirenenses y alejandrinos,
con otros de Cilicia y Asia.
10 Pero no podían resistir la sabiduría y
el Espíritu con que hablaba. 11 Sobornaron
entonces a unos hombres que dijeron:
–Nosotros le hemos oído proferir
palabras blasfemas contra Moisés y contra
Dios.
12 Amotinaron al pueblo, a los ancianos
y a los escribas, y llegaron de improviso
para prenderle y llevarlo ante el Sanedrín.
13 Presentaron testigos falsos que
decían:
–Este hombre no deja de proferir
palabras contra este lugar santo y contra
la Ley. 14 Porque le hemos oído decir que
ese Jesús, el Nazareno, destruirá este lugar
y cambiará las costumbres que nos
ha transmitido Moisés.
15 Y al fijarse en él todos los que estaban
sentados en el Sanedrín vieron que
su rostro era como el de un ángel.
Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy
En 15 breves versículos, este capítulo pasa de la selección de Esteba como primer diácono a su martirio. Señor, mientras oro para que me muestres dónde quieres que sirva, ayúdame también a prepararme para soportar el precio del discipulado con alegría.
La Biblia de Navarra
Permiso para usar esta versión de la primera edición de la Biblia de Navarra
para el Año de la Biblia del Obispo
dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).