Sunday School Lessons: Acts 6

Lesson 11
Acts 6

The appointment of deacons and the witness of Stephen

Read Acts 2:44-45. 

Do you remember how the early church lived together? 

What happened in Acts 4 that demonstrates how this early arrangement was beginning to break down?

In Acts 6, we’re going to see a further breaking down of their communal way of living and how the Apostles responded to the challenges.

Read Acts 6:1-7

6:1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will 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 gathering, 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 on them.

7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Part of the reason all the believers were sharing everything equally was to make sure widows and orphans were being taken care of.  A dispute arose between the Hellenistic Jews and the Hebrew Jews.  The Hellenistic Jews were those that had been born and raised in a land other than Palestine.  They had grown up as Jews, but had also been raised with the customs of the lands from which they came.  The Hellenists were complaining that when the funds and possessions of the group were being distributed, the Hebrew widows were getting more than their fair share.

What was the Apostles’ response to this question of fairness?

What does it mean “to serve tables?”

To what did the Apostles devote themselves?

What are the 5 qualifications they were to look for in the seven men?
1. 

2.

3.

4.

5. 

Who chose the men?

Who were the men?

Only two of these men are heard from again in scripture—Stephen and Philip.  They were admirable men.  Stephen is singled out as a man “full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.”  Nicolaus is refered to as a proselyte.  (Discuss the term)

All of the names of the men chosen were Hellenistic names. This does not necessarily mean that all the men were Hellenistic Jews, but we at least tell from this that the leadership of the early church was not leaving them out or treating them differently.

They brought the chosen men to the Apostles who prayed for them and laid hands on them.

Why did they pray for them?

Why did they lay hands on them?

These men, known as deacons, were chosen to serve the material needs of the early church and to oversee the distribution among its members.  This is not to say, though, that this was not a spiritual office.  It takes great wisdom and spiritual understanding to serve in that way.  

The Apostles could concentrate on their primary responsibilities: prayer and the ministry of the Word. The word of God continued to be preached more and more and people were coming to Christ in great numbers.  Even many of the priests became “obedient to the faith.”

What do you think the Sanhedrin would think about the priests becoming followers of Christ?  What do you think might happen?

Read Acts 6:8-15

8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing 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, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 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 they 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 that 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.

What can we learn about Stephen from this passage?

Why were they so threatened by Stephen?

What are some of the things they did against him?

How do you think Stephen was able to be so calm in the face of false charges?

Next week we will look at Stephen’s address before the court. Please read Chapter 7 for next week.

*These lessons are written for use with elementary aged students.  You can find lessons for previous chapters here.