Daily Bible Reading (Friday, May 11th)

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Acts 6 (ESV)

Seven Chosen to Serve

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists[a] arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers,[b] pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Stephen Is Seized

And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, 13 and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” 15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Footnotes:

  1. Acts 6:1 That is, Greek-speaking Jews
  2. Acts 6:3 Or brothers and sisters

8 Comments

Praying that we will get the Word out ot more people so that the number of disciples will increase greatly!

I listened to sermon by John MacArthur yesterday dealing with how to handle criticism in the ministry. He talked about how false accusations/critics can completely destroy someones ministry. We see this happen with Stephen in one of the saddest chapters in church history but what men meant for evil God meant for good (Gen. 50:20). Praying for our leaders and that the Lord would protect them from false accusations. ***Oh Kyle with a smile:)****

@keagan agreed!

In this chapter we see the word of God continue to increase and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly. So it is today, where the word of God increases, the number of disciples grows. We also see that the world, under Satan's influence, will continue to resist. Read the news, we see a secular America respond to our message with hate. But, we also see an example of a Godly man and how to respond to the hatred of the world, with love and the truth. Even is it costs us our lives...but that's the next chapter.

I’m thankful to God this morning that I’m a part of a church who still looks for the same qualities in their elders and deacons today. And I’m thankful that our men are faithful and diligent to do it just as well. Now, we just need to get Kyle English’s face to look like the face of an angel. :)

The description in v.10 caught my attention: “but they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking”. Stephen was a man “full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” and this clearly showed in the way that he spoke and proclaimed the truth.

I love the description of the kind of men they looked for to serve, “men of good repute, full of the spirit and wisdom...” (v. 3). Praying that this description would be the pursuit of everyone at BF!

Verse 7 stuck out to me which reads, “And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.” I am encouraged by this because the disciples continued to witness to lost souls (despite their opposition) and the Lord honored that by bearing fruit! Oh Lord I pray for our continued reliance on your word. I ask that you’d bless our efforts as we seek to share your kingdom truths with others.

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