Acts 6:7 - The Choosing of the Seven
So the word of God continued to spread.
The early church experienced significant growth as the apostles preached the gospel. This phrase indicates the dynamic and unstoppable nature of God's word, echoing Isaiah 55:11, which promises that God's word will not return void. The spread of the word signifies the fulfillment of Jesus' command in Acts 1:8 to be witnesses in Jerusalem and beyond. The Holy Spirit empowered the apostles, leading to the rapid dissemination of the gospel message.
The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly,
Jerusalem, the epicenter of Jewish religious life, was where the church began. The rapid growth of disciples highlights the effectiveness of the apostles' ministry and the work of the Holy Spirit. This growth fulfills the prophecy in Joel 2:28-32 about the outpouring of the Spirit. The term "disciples" refers to those who followed the teachings of Jesus, indicating a deep commitment to the new faith. The growth also reflects the communal life and witness of the early believers as described in Acts 2:42-47.
and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.
The conversion of priests is significant, as they were part of the religious establishment often resistant to Jesus' message. Their obedience to the faith suggests a recognition of Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. This shift among the priests may have been influenced by the apostles' teaching and the miracles performed, which validated the message of Jesus as the Christ. The priests' conversion also underscores the power of the gospel to transcend social and religious barriers, as seen in Galatians 3:28.
Persons / Places / Events
1. The Word of God
Refers to the message of the Gospel, the teachings of Jesus Christ, and the Scriptures that were being preached by the apostles.
2. Disciples in Jerusalem
The early followers of Jesus who were based in Jerusalem, the center of Jewish religious life and the birthplace of the early church.
3. Priests
Jewish religious leaders who served in the temple. Their conversion signifies a significant shift, as they were part of the established religious order.
4. Jerusalem
The city where the early church was growing and where significant events in the life of Jesus and the apostles took place.
5. The Faith
Refers to the Christian faith, the belief in Jesus Christ as the Messiah and the Son of God.
Teaching Points
The Power of the Word
The spread of the word of God demonstrates its inherent power to transform lives and communities. Believers today are called to trust in the power of Scripture to bring about change.
The Role of Discipleship
The rapid growth of disciples highlights the importance of discipleship in the church. Christians are encouraged to engage in discipleship, both as learners and teachers.
Breaking Religious Barriers
The conversion of priests shows that the Gospel transcends religious and cultural barriers. Believers should be open to sharing the Gospel with all people, regardless of their background.
Obedience to the Faith
Becoming obedient to the faith involves a transformation of heart and mind. Christians are called to live out their faith through obedience to God's commands.
Community Impact
The growth of the church in Jerusalem had a significant impact on the community. Believers are encouraged to be active in their communities, spreading the love and truth of the Gospel.
Lists and Questions
Top 10 Lessons from Acts 6Acts 6:7 – If a “large number of priests” truly converted, why do contemporary Jewish or Roman sources not document such a mass defection from Judaism? What defines a Christian disciple?Acts 6:1 – How could a church supposedly led by the Holy Spirit allow discrimination against Hellenistic widows in its earliest stages? How did Christianity originate and develop initially?
(7) The word of God increased.--The tense indicates gradual and continuous growth. The fact stated implies more than the increase of numbers specified in the next clause. The "word of God" is here the whole doctrine of Christ as preached by the Apostles, and, we must now add, by the Seven who are commonly known as Deacons, and there was, as the sequel shows, at this stage, what we have learnt to call an expansion and development of doctrine.
A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.--The fact is every way significant. No priest is named as a follower of our Lord's. None, up to this time, had been converted by the Apostles. The new fact may fairly be connected with the new teaching of Stephen. And the main feature of that teaching was, as we shall see, an anticipation of what was afterwards proclaimed more clearly by St. Paul and (if we assign the Epistle to the Hebrews to its probable author) by Apollos: that the time for sacrifices had passed away, and that the Law, as a whole, and the ritual of the Temple in particular, were decaying and waxing old, and ready to vanish away (Hebrews 8:13). We might have thought this likely to repel the priests, and to rouse them to a fanatic frenzy. We find that it attracts them as nothing else had attracted. To them, it may well have been, that daily round of a ritual of slaughtered victims and clouds of incense, the cutting-up of the carcases and the carriage of the offal, had become unspeakably wearisome. They felt how profitless it was to their own spiritual life, how little power there was in the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin (Hebrews 10:4). Their profession of the new faith did not necessarily involve the immediate abandonment of their official function; but they were drifting to it as to a not far-off result, and were prepared to meet it without misgiving, perhaps with thankfulness, when it became inevitable.
Verse 7. - Exceedingly for greatly, A.V. Were obedient to the faith. Compare the phrase, obedience of faith or "to the faith" (Romans 1:5; Romans 16:25). The addition of a great multitude of priests was an important incident in the Church's history, both as they were a higher order of men, and a class very liable to be prejudiced against the faith which would rob them of their importance. Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
[So]
Καὶ (Kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.
the
ὁ (ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.
word
λόγος (logos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.
of God
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.
continued to spread.
ηὔξανεν (ēuxanen)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 837: (a) I cause to increase, become greater (b) I increase, grow. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to grow, i.e. Enlarge.
The
ὁ (ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.
number
ἀριθμὸς (arithmos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 706: A number, total. From airo; a number.
of
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.
disciples
μαθητῶν (mathētōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3101: A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil.
in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.
Jerusalem
Ἰερουσαλὴμ (Ierousalēm)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2419: Of Hebrew origin; Hierusalem, the capitol of Palestine.
grew
ἐπληθύνετο (eplēthyneto)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4129: To increase, multiply. From another form of plethos; to increase.
rapidly,
σφόδρα (sphodra)
Adverb
Strong's 4970: Exceedingly, greatly, very much. Neuter plural of sphodros as adverb; vehemently, i.e. In a high degree, much.
and
τε (te)
Conjunction
Strong's 5037: And, both. A primary particle of connection or addition; both or also.
a great
πολύς (polys)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4183: Much, many; often.
number
ὄχλος (ochlos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3793: From a derivative of echo; a throng; by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot.
of
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.
priests
ἱερέων (hiereōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 2409: A priest, one who offers sacrifice to a god (in Jewish and pagan religions; of Christians only met.). From hieros; a priest.
became obedient
ὑπήκουον (hypēkouon)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 5219: From hupo and akouo; to hear under, i.e. To listen attentively; by implication, to heed or conform to a command or authority.
to the
τῇ (tē)
Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.
faith.
πίστει (pistei)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4102: Faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.
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