Page 40 - Acts Student Textbook

2) διακονια = diakonia, is a noun referring to the work of service done by a deacon or servant.
This is the word for “ministration” in Acts 6:1, but it is also used in many other places for acts
of service in general, including v4 (“ministry” of the word).
3) διακονεω = diakoneo, is the verb for serving and is used in 6:2 (“serve tables”), but it is also
used in many other places for other kinds of serving in general.

So to summarize, we have:

Verb for the Act Noun: the Work Person
διακονεω διακονια διακονος
serve service servant/deacon

The word “deacon” (as in 1 Tim. 3, etc.) is transliterated from the Greek to give us the sound of the
word instead of the meaning. The first two forms of this root word are used in Acts 6 to describe the
work of the men appointed here, but these are here translated into English. So are these references
to the office of deacon or to a general work of service with no specific office? The fact that these
men were formally appointed to a specific work (vv 3, 6) seems to imply an office of deacon. Further,
the work done by them would surely fit the kind of work that could be done by those who serve in an
official capacity in a church.
27

It was important that the church chose the best seven men to administer to the widows because the
standard set forth by the Holy Spirit was honorable. Faithfulness in dealing with the widows was very
important as we have seen that lack of that standard costs the lives of Ananias and Sapphira. If
collection of funds costs the lives of the unfaithful, most likely the distribution task may bring about
the same consequences if no standards are set.

Summary growth report (6:7)

In his summary, Luke makes a very interesting report, "a great many of the priests were becoming
obedient to the faith" This was one of the causes of the Jewish leadership (i.e., Sadducees) unrest
over Christianity. Those who knew the OT well were being convinced that Jesus of Nazareth was truly
the promised Messiah. The inner circle of Judaism was cracking!

The summary statements of growth may be a key to the structure of the book (cf. 9:31; 12:24; 16:5;
19:20; 28:31).

Focus at this point shifts to Stephen

The Opposition and Arrest (6:8-15)

Stephen effectively did great miracles (6:8). Certain Jews disputed with Stephen but could not resist
his message (6:9, 10). The Jews accused Stephen of speaking blasphemy against Moses and God
(6:11). The gospel actually honored God and honored Moses by taking them at their word and
teaching that which fulfilled their teaching. See Deut. 18:15-19; Jer. 31:31ff; Hebrews 10:1-10; 7:11-
14; 8:6-13; 9:1-4; 2 Corinthians 3:6-11; Galatians 3:24,25; 5:1-6; Romans 7:1-7; Ephesians 2:11-16;
Colossians 2:13-17.

Stephen is brought before the council and further accused (6:12-14). Stephen’s face appeared like
that of an angel (6:15). What that would be is not described; some have thought his face was bright

27 Ibid, (p.103)
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