- How did the apostles deal with the incipient troubles mentioned in 6:1?
What three results followed for the widow, the Seven, and the Twelve?
What lessons can we learn from their handling of the situation? - Notice three things about Stephen’s life and ministry (6:5-15):
(a) the outstanding features of his life (verses 5, 8);
(b) the nature of the persecution against him (verses 11-13);
(c) the charges laid against him (verses 13, 14).Cf. mark 14:57, 58 and Acts 21:27, 28.
What do you consider to be the indispensable qualifications for, and the possible consequences of, faithful witness for Christ?
Notes
- 6:1. ‘Hellenists’ denote Jews who had lived abroad and spoke Greek ‘Hebrews’ were Jews of Palestine who spoke the Jewish language.
- Stephen’s ministry marked a vital stage in the growth of the early church, ‘first drove a wedge between Judaism and Christianity’ (see Acts [ TNTC], pp. 128-150).