Acts 6:1-15
Lesson 230
Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."
In this lesson:
Discontent in the church.
Seven Deacons.
Stephen is arrested.
Stephen.
(By ikonographics Athens, Greece.)
(By ikonographics Athens, Greece.)
Who was -
Stephen -
Stephen was one of the original seven deacons (Acts 6:5) appointed by the young church. "Full of faith and power (Acts 6:8)," Stephen was a persuasive evangelist for Christ (6:10). He was honest (6:3) and a good church administrator who,
with the help of God, was able to perform miracles (6:8). Stephen became the first Christian martyr in AD 34 when Jewish leaders brought false witnesses to testify against him and then stoned him to death (Acts 7:57-60). Stephen's murder was witnessed by Paul/Saul (Acts 7:58) and began a period of "great persecution" (Acts 8:1-5). This forced the apostles to flee Jerusalem, which helped spread Christianity beyond Palestine (Acts 11:19).
Philip -
From Caesarea (Acts 21:8), Philip was a Greek Jewish convert to Christianity and an evangelist. Not to be confused with the disciple Philip or Herod Philip. An "honest" man, "full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom" (6:3), Philip was chosen to be "one of the seven" deacons to distribute food to poor widows (6:5). Philip was one of the first to take the Gospel to Gentiles (non-Jews). After Stephen was martyred (Acts 7:57-60), Philip fled Jerusalem to preach in Samaria. There he performed miracles and brought "great joy" (Acts 8:5-8) until an angel guided him into the Gaza desert to witness to an Ethiopian official of Queen Candace (Acts 8:26-32). This meeting opened the door to Ethiopian officialdom and helped bring the Gospel to Ethiopia. Philip then went to teach in Azotus and Caesarea (Acts 8:40).
Parmenas -
Another of the original seven deacons. Some Bible scholars believe he was martyred in Philippi in AD 33. However, the Catholic theologian Hippolytus of Rome (170-236) wrote that Parmenas lived to be the bishop of Soli. He is memorialized
in the Byzantine calendar each July 28th.
Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, and Nicolas -
Four of the original seven deacons. Nothing else is known about them.
Stephen -
Stephen was one of the original seven deacons (Acts 6:5) appointed by the young church. "Full of faith and power (Acts 6:8)," Stephen was a persuasive evangelist for Christ (6:10). He was honest (6:3) and a good church administrator who,
with the help of God, was able to perform miracles (6:8). Stephen became the first Christian martyr in AD 34 when Jewish leaders brought false witnesses to testify against him and then stoned him to death (Acts 7:57-60). Stephen's murder was witnessed by Paul/Saul (Acts 7:58) and began a period of "great persecution" (Acts 8:1-5). This forced the apostles to flee Jerusalem, which helped spread Christianity beyond Palestine (Acts 11:19).
Philip -
From Caesarea (Acts 21:8), Philip was a Greek Jewish convert to Christianity and an evangelist. Not to be confused with the disciple Philip or Herod Philip. An "honest" man, "full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom" (6:3), Philip was chosen to be "one of the seven" deacons to distribute food to poor widows (6:5). Philip was one of the first to take the Gospel to Gentiles (non-Jews). After Stephen was martyred (Acts 7:57-60), Philip fled Jerusalem to preach in Samaria. There he performed miracles and brought "great joy" (Acts 8:5-8) until an angel guided him into the Gaza desert to witness to an Ethiopian official of Queen Candace (Acts 8:26-32). This meeting opened the door to Ethiopian officialdom and helped bring the Gospel to Ethiopia. Philip then went to teach in Azotus and Caesarea (Acts 8:40).
Parmenas -
Another of the original seven deacons. Some Bible scholars believe he was martyred in Philippi in AD 33. However, the Catholic theologian Hippolytus of Rome (170-236) wrote that Parmenas lived to be the bishop of Soli. He is memorialized
in the Byzantine calendar each July 28th.
Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, and Nicolas -
Four of the original seven deacons. Nothing else is known about them.
Study Tip:
Don't forget to read the Margin Notes in blue and to click on the links.
Don't forget to read the Margin Notes in blue and to click on the links.