Acts 6

     6:1-2.  Cf. 1 Tim.5:3-16.

     6:3-6.  This passage is generally understood as the first ordination of deacons.  The following accounts of Stephen and Philip show that their ministry was by no means restricted to material service.   These men have Greek names, indicating that they were suited in that respect to care for these Greek speaking widows.  Philip is, of course, not Philip the apostle (2, 6).

     6:7.  The ordinary priests (such as Zacharias) were not as worldly and corrupt as the high priestly families (4:6).  Cf. Mal.3:3.

     6:8-14.  The charges (11, 13-14), like any lie of the devil, are a distortion of the truth.  The devil creates nothing.  All sin is a twisting and perverting of some good thing, for God made all things good.  These lies are out of the same book as those leveled against Jesus.  Jesus had warned them that he was coming to judge them (Mt.26:64), and they still feared him.  Also, note the sneering use of the “N” word, Nazarene.

     6:15.  Cf. Ex.34:29f.; Mt.17:2; 28:3; 2 Cor.3:7-18.