Meaning of Acts 6:6

This verse describes a pivotal moment in the early church where the apostles, recognizing the growing administrative needs of the burgeoning community, delegate a crucial task to a group of newly appointed individuals. The act of presenting these men to the apostles and their subsequent prayer and laying on of hands signifies a formal recognition and impartation of authority and spiritual enablement for service. This event addresses a practical challenge within the church, ensuring that the apostles could focus on prayer and the ministry of the Word, while others handled the daily distribution of resources to the Hellenistic widows, thereby preventing potential neglect and fostering unity.

Context and Background

The narrative in Acts 6:1-7 immediately precedes this verse. The early Jerusalem church, composed of both Jewish and Gentile believers, faced a dispute. Hellenistic (Greek-speaking) Jewish widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food and provisions compared to their Hebraic counterparts. This situation threatened to create division and undermine the church's witness. The twelve apostles, realizing they could not effectively manage both the spiritual oversight and the practical administration of the growing community, proposed a solution: appointing seven men, described as "full of the Spirit and wisdom," to oversee this task. Acts 6:3 indicates that the apostles instructed the congregation to choose from among themselves these men. The selection was made, and Acts 6:6 records the apostolic endorsement and commissioning of these seven.

Key Themes and Messages

• Delegation and Order: This event highlights the importance of effective leadership and the principle of delegation. The apostles, rather than attempting to do everything themselves, wisely entrusted specific responsibilities to others, establishing a system of order within the church.
• Spiritual Impartation: The laying on of hands was a significant practice in the early church, symbolizing the impartation of spiritual gifts, authority, or blessing. Here, it signifies the apostles' endorsement of these chosen men and their prayer for God's empowerment upon them for their specific ministry.
• Service and Administration: The verse underscores that service within the church, even administrative tasks, is a vital and divinely recognized calling. These seven were not merely caretakers but were appointed to ensure fairness and care for the vulnerable within the community.
• Unity and Resolution of Conflict: By addressing the dispute directly and establishing a functional structure, this episode demonstrates how the early church sought to resolve internal issues and maintain unity through prayerful, Spirit-led action.

Spiritual Significance and Application

The spiritual significance lies in the recognition that God equips individuals for specific ministries within the body of Christ. The laying on of hands represents a formal commissioning, a public affirmation that these individuals were chosen and empowered by God, through the apostles' prayer, to fulfill their appointed role. For believers today, this passage teaches the importance of:

• Recognizing and supporting diverse ministries: Not all service is public speaking or direct evangelism; administrative and practical tasks are essential for the church's healthy functioning.
• Respecting leadership and order: There is a divinely ordained structure within the church, and submission to appointed leaders and established processes is encouraged.
• Seeking God's empowerment for service: Any ministry, regardless of its nature, requires the Spirit's guidance and strength.
• The communal aspect of ministry: The selection was made by the congregation, and the commissioning was done by the apostles, illustrating the collaborative nature of church work.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This event foreshadows the development of church structure and ministry roles throughout the New Testament. The appointment of deacons (the Greek term for "servant" or "minister," which these seven are often considered to be) establishes a precedent for specialized leadership within the church. It demonstrates the early church's understanding of the Great Commission not only involving evangelism but also the practical outworking of Christian love and justice within the community of believers. This act of delegation allows the apostles to continue their primary mission of spreading the gospel and establishing churches, aligning with Jesus' command to make disciples of all nations.

Analogies

Consider a modern-day organization facing a similar challenge. If a company's executives are spending too much time managing the mailroom and cafeteria, they might appoint department heads to oversee these specific functions. The executives would then formally introduce these department heads to the staff, perhaps with a blessing or endorsement, signifying their authority and responsibility. This ensures the executives can focus on strategic planning and core business operations, while the appointed individuals ensure the smooth running of their respective departments. Similarly, the apostles, as the spiritual "executives" of the early church, delegated administrative duties to ensure the effective "operation" of the community.

Relation to Other Verses

• Acts 1:8: Jesus' promise that believers would "be my witnesses... to the ends of the earth" is fulfilled through the apostles and those they empowered, enabling the gospel to spread effectively without administrative hindrances.
• 1 Timothy 3:8-13: This passage outlines the qualifications for deacons, the very role these seven men are understood to have filled, emphasizing character and spiritual maturity for those in service.
• Romans 12:4-8: Paul's teaching on spiritual gifts highlights the diversity of ministries within the body of Christ, from teaching and prophecy to acts of service and administration, all of which are essential and divinely given.
• 1 Corinthians 12:12-27: This chapter further elaborates on the body of Christ metaphor, emphasizing that every part, no matter how seemingly insignificant, is necessary for the whole to function effectively. The appointment of the seven reflects this principle of specialized function for the common good.