Reading for April 21st (Easter)

Read Acts 6.1-15
6.1-15: Stephen, the Hellenist, prompts persecution.
In verse 1: The Hellenists were probably Greek speaking Jews who belonged among the disciples or followers of  Jesus (6.2, 7), along with Hebrews who were Jews who spoke a dialect of Hebrew called Aramaic.
The daily distribution was given "to each as any had need," and the special needs of the widows had priority according to the law (Deut 10.18; 14.29; 26.12-13).
In verse 2: The twelve apostles (1.26) had a particular role in Israel (Lk 22.30), which required their service of the word of God, a synonym for God's own mission (4.31; 6.7; 8.14; 11.1; 12.24; 19.20).
In verse 3: In Lk 9.1=10.1, the s ending of the twelve is followed by the sending of the seventy, all still within Israel..
These well-attested seven (compare 1.21-22) are assigned the task of serving identified "need," which was central to the community (2.45; 4.35).
In verse 5: Greek names were common among Jews throughout the empire.
In addition to Stephen, Philip is the only one who plays a further role in the narrative (8.5, 29, 40; 21.8-9).
In verse 6: The apostles prayer and laying of hands (13.3) mark confirmation of the Spirit's choice as much as did the casting of lots (1.26).
In verse 7: This summary verse indicates the promising culmination of the early mission in Jerusalem (1.8), particularly with the inclusion of many of the priests.
The conflicts that follow are not with priests who became disciples.
In verse 8: Nothing is said of Stephen's serving the needs of the widows, but his great wonders and signs manifest the work of God through him as through the apostles (5.12).
In verse 9:  These specific synagogues for Greek-speaking Jews from throughout the empire are otherwise unknown.
In verse 10 Hellenistic philosophers, including Greek-speaking Jews, were interested in wisdom (see 1 Cor 1.22), but this was an inspired display of a "wisdom that none could oppose" (Lk 21.15).
In verses 11-12: The charges of blasphemy against Moses and God are contrived, as they were against Jesus (see Lk 20.19-20).
The conspirators are the ones who stir up the people (see Lk 23.5).
In verse 13: The prohibition of false witnesses is one of the ten commandments (Ex 20.16; Deut 19.16-18).
The charge against Stephen is similar to that brought against Paul (21.28).
The security of Israel was believed to rest on the sanctity of the law and the temple.
In verse 14: Luke only reports this charge against Jesus in this context (see Mk 14.58; 15.29; Mt 26.61; 27.40; Jn 2.19-21).
In verse 15: Stephen's transformation with his face like the face of an angel was a warning of contending with God (see Dan 3.24-30).
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