Welcome to Part 14 of this Bible Study series. We encourage you to read the previous studies for your edification. In this installment we will discuss chapter 6 of the Book of Acts.  

Providing for the Elderly 

The beginning of chapter 6 of the Book of Acts covers a topic that many assemblies neglect. Verse 1 shows us that God multiplied the church at Jerusalem. This growth included the conversion of widows as indicated in the verse. The Grecians (which means the Greek speaking Jews according to the Strong’s Concordance) began to talk about the fact that the church was neglecting it’s widows. The likely explanation for this is that the Grecians were familiar with the many times God command that the widows were provided for. Deut. 14:28-29; Deut. 16:10-11,13-14; Deut. 24:19-21; and Deut. 26:1-13 are the greatest examples.  

The apostles did not argue that these laws were no longer applicable. Instead, they developed a solution to a problem that was being overlooked (Acts 6:2-4). This plan was consistent with what James and Paul taught in their letters (see I Tim. 5: 3-4, 16; and James 1:27). They obviously learned this from the Old Testament and the Lord Jesus Christ who made sure that His mother would be provided for after His death (John 19:26-27).   

In executing the plan of the apostles, the assembly chose seven men to provide for the widows of the congregation (Acts 6:5-6). This is something we do not see amongst many groups of professing Christians. The previous statement is an observation rather than an indictment. The word of God promotes providing for those who are lacking and this should not be ignored. Pastor, evangelists, apostles, and prophets are to be fed and housed but these able-bodied individuals are not to be prioritized over the poor and the widows. Leaders in the ministry are called to be servants rather than be served. This means that the ministry should be willing to do without so that those who have need are served.  

Unfortunately, many Christian groups operate contrary to these principles. Even the Lord Jesus Christ said that He came to serve and not to be served (Mark 10:45). As this age comes to a close, Christians should not neglect to serve the poor and the widows of the church. Jesus gives a strong warning about this matter in Matt 25:31-46.  

Many of us think we are not financially able to do much, but if we truly evaluated our budgets, then we will find waste and misuse of our blessings. It is written in the law pertaining to tithing (which is sharing with the priesthood, the poor, strangers, and widows) that every man should give as he is able (Deut. 16:16-17). Whether we are able to give to one person or to 100 people, God has not blessed us that we may splurge on fruitless endeavors. He has blessed us that we may learn to be charitable as He is (Matt. 5:43-48). 

God did not say “In the last days, be less charitable and stock up goods so that you may survive the trouble to come.” Instead, Jesus tells us, “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.” (Luke 12:22-23) The phrase take no thought means to not be anxious about according to the Strong’s Concordance. Some have become obsessed with physically prepping for the end time, but Jesus tells us not to become anxious about what we will wear or what we will eat. God provided for the Israelites for 40 years while they travelled through the wilderness. We are told that God fed them and their clothes did not deteriorate in that time (Deut. 8:1-4). Do not become misled that you have to put your trust in what you can store up. God can and will provide for the faithful.  

When someone says that their spouse is faithful, they do not mean that their spouse is full of belief. What they mean is that their spouse is honest, keeps his/her commitments, and is full of integrity. Surviving the end times will require us to be faithful to God; that is live as God requires us. Remember the church is the bride of Jesus Christ. Ask yourself: Will I be found faithful at His return? (Matt. 24:45-46) Notice that this verse labels a faithful servant as one who gives the household of God meat in due season. To be clear, this verse is more about spiritual food than physical sustenance, but we must not ignore Matt. 25:31-46 and James 2:15-16. Faith is belief and faithfulness is acting on that belief. At minimum, God wants us to support the brethren spiritually and physically as He does. In doing so, it is as if we are doing it to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is something we must learn to do. We must strive not to be that servant who neglects and abuses his fellowservants (Matt. 24:48-51; Luke 12:45-47).  

Obedient to the Faith  

“And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7) 

This is another verse that people overlook because it does not appear to say anything that critical to the faith. Reread this verse and contemplate the last clause which says, “a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.” Why did Luke use the phrase obedient to the faith and what does it mean?  

The Greek word translated to obedient was used to describe the sea and the wind in Mark 4:41. The same Greek word was translated as obeyed in Heb. 11:8. So, a great company of priests obeyed the faith.  

What is faith? Heb 11:1, 6 holds the answer. Faith is the acceptance that what you hope for will come to pass. It is impossible to please God without accepting that He will fulfill His promises. A doubtful servant will not diligently follow his master. Likewise, we will not diligently follow God if we doubt His promises. Notice Heb 11:13, 39-40. These verses show that the faithful servants of God accepted that God would keep His promise to make His servants perfect, that is resurrect them to eternal life. This is the reward of those who diligently seek God. This is what the great company of priest were obedient to.  

Understand that Jesus Christ told His disciples to “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matt. 6:33) We are to seek the kingdom of God, that is seek the resurrection into the kingdom. Jesus also tells us to seek His (the Father’s) righteousness. (Also, see Matt. 5:6,10,20 and Acts 10:34-35) There are hundreds of verses pertaining to the issue of developing righteous character. Christians should do their due diligence to seek out what God has said about this matter rather than accept what others have to say.  

Again, Acts 6:7 tells us that a large number of priests were “obedient to the faith.” They did what the faith required of them. Following Jesus Christ is about having faith (belief) in God’s promise and being faithful to that belief (obedient). In many places in the Bible, we are told that mere belief is not enough. 

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” (James 2:19) 

The devils believe and tremble, but they are not obedient to the faith. They have no place with God because they rebelled against God’s law. Matt. 25:41 shows us that the lake of fire is really prepared for the devil and his angels. Unfortunately, many ignore that this parable is about obedience. This great company of priests understood that real faith requires obedience. It is not merely a feeling or emotional state. It is believing what God has promised and behaving in a way that makes your belief evident! Learn to prove your faith through obedience before it is too late. The Great Tribulation will truly prove who is obedient to the faith or not.  

Full of Faith and Power  

Acts 6:8 uses a very interesting phrase to describe Stephen. It tells us that Stephen was full of faith and power. What a wonderful description of a mere man! Keep in mind that Stephen was one of the men chosen to minister (serve) the widows of the church (Acts 6:5). This verse describes Stephen as full of faith and the Holy Ghost. A very similar phrase is used to describe Barnabas in Acts 11:24. It reads, ”For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith.” 

If you diligently study the concept of being full of power, then you will recognize that it describes being full of the Holy Spirit. The professing Christian world has a major misunderstanding when it comes to the Holy Spirit. It is commonly accepted that the Holy Spirit is the third personage of the Godhead, but when challenged, the adherents of this doctrine cannot substantiate it with scriptural evidence. Please keep in mind that the Bible uses several phrases to describe the Holy Spirit. Study the following phrases for a better understanding: Holy Spirit, Holy Ghost, Spirit of God, Spirit of the Lord, Spirit of wisdom, power of the Spirit, etc. To truly understand what the Holy Spirit is and does read what Jesus Christ said in John 14:15-26 and John 16:1-16. 

Based on the previously cited verses, it should be easy to understand why Stephen was a great evangelist. He was full of power and faith from the Holy Spirit. God used this mere man to do “great wonders and miracles among the people.” Keep in mind that John 14 shows us that being obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ is the way to be filled with the Holy Spirit. This is reaffirmed by the apostles in Acts 5:32. If we desire to be filled with Spirit of the Almighty God, then we must be obedient to Him. It is His Spirit that will empower us to endure the days to come!!!  

There is no amount of physical preparedness that will ready our hearts for the Great Tribulation. We need to be filled with faith and power to endure until the end. Consider Joshua the son of Nun and how he is described in Deut. 34:9. It was this man who was used to bring down the unbreakable walls of Jericho! It is through this man filled with the spirit of wisdom that the promise land was subdued! It is written that Joshua wholly followed the Lord (Num. 32:12) Also read Josh 11:15 to see how faithful Joshua was.  

Truly every generation of the church needed to be obedient and faithful to the mandates of God. How much more faithful and obedient should the last generation be? We are going to have to set our hearts to do the will of God as all saints before us had to. Then we will be filled with the same power by the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit that worked great signs and wonders through Stephen! Remember, he that endures until the end shall be saved (Matt. 10:22 and Matt. 24:13).  

Note: In studying and writing this installment, it became obvious that chapters 6 and 7 of the Book of Acts should be one chapter. Because the trial of Stephen begins at the end of chapter 6 and carries over into chapter 7, I decided that it would be more prudent to cover the subject in a separate installment. To see how the trial of Stephen applies to the surviving the end times, please read the part 15 of this series.