Seven Men

Seven men of good reputation

ACTS 6 COMMENTARY ◄
Acts 6:1-2 Hellenists

Acts 6:3-7 Seven Men

ACTS 6:3-4 3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

Who chose the seven men?
The apostles had "summoned the multitude," meaning the church, and had told them to "seek out from among you," so the seven men were chosen within and by the congregation.

What were the criteria for these first seven deacons?
They were to be "men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom" (Acts 6:3).

Why "seven" men?
The local councils of Jewish communities usually consisted of seven men, usually known as the "the seven of the town."

ACTS 6:5-6 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.

What is peculiar about the names of the seven men they chose?
"Stephen... Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas" (Acts 6:5) are all Hellenist names. The Hellenist widows had been neglected during the rapid growth of the church, so the church, which was predominantly Hebrews during this early growth phase, chose seven Hellenist men to manage the church. No doubt the Hellenists appreciated this remarkable expression of commitment and trust, perhaps even an apology, and the seven Hellenist deacons took care of both Hebrew and Hellenist widows with equal care.

ACTS 6:7 7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

What happened thereafter?
"Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem" (Acts 6:7).

What is meant by "a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith" (Acts 6:7)?
Unlike the high priest and his immediate family, most of the thousands of priests in Israel had regular occupations and served as priests only when their turn came around (see Division of Abijah). Apparently, a great number of these regular priests were among the new converts.