Study From the Book of Acts,6

Study From the Book of Acts,6  

Today we study the sixth chapter of the Book of Acts and we choose two biblical principles and their lessons which are useful in Biblical Counselling.

The Hellenists were those of Jewish descendants who grew up outside the land of Isreal. They spoke Greek. They used the Greek translation of the OT, the Septuagint. There may be animosity between them and the other Jews believers as they believed that the care of widows between them were neglected. That made the apostles to decide to choose 7 disciples to serve tables. The men who were chosen were known of good reputation and filled of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.

The word of God had spread as the disciples were not ashamed of their faith, but with great boldness they went out to bear witness to the truth of the gospel that had changed their lives. Stephen was full of wisdom, full of the Holy Spirit and full of faith and power. However, resistance to the gospel had gone from discussion to debate, from debate to slander, and from slander to violence.

The antagonist stirred up the people by convincing the Jews that the essence of the Jewish faith that was held as the most sacred were under attack by Stephen.  The issue was not the work of Christ on the Cross but the core of traditional Jewish religion.  

Structure:

Verses 1-7: seven chosen to serve.

Verses 8-15: Stephen accused of blasphemy.

Principle 11: verse 6:4-- “but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to ministry of the word.”

Lesson 11: Church leaders and teachers, in particular, must never skimp on their time spent in prayer and in God’s Word. Since they will “receive a stricter judgement” (James 3:1), they need to make sure they stay close to God.  

Principle 12: 6:11: --"Then they secretly induced men to say, ‘we have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.’”

Lesson 12: Just as the opponents of Jesus instructed witnesses to testify falsely against the Lord, so the opponents of Stephen followed the same strategy. Like Jesus, Stephen did not defend himself against the accusers.9/3/2025.