Acts 6
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And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
Public Domain KJV text from Wordproject.org
ESV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
NIV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Commentary
Because of my responsibilities many young people ask me for funds for their various needs, especially for education. I invest a lot of time, even personal time, in helping raise funds for these needy students. But I felt convicted that “It is not right for us to neglect the preaching of God’s word in order to handle finances.” Acts 6:2 (Good News Translation).
So, we have recruited helpers to take care of those students' daily needs. “But we give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” Acts 6:4 (KJV). The secret of really living is when we are doing that for which we are made/called/ordained. God has given different gifts to different people to be used accordingly.
Since I have been studying the Bible with the Revival and Reformation initiative of Believe His Prophets Daily Bible Reading from the beginning, I invited others, especially young people who came for prayer or to seek financial help, to join the world church in reading through the Bible! Now I have two prayer groups of twenty-five people each who are studying the Bible daily and meeting on ZOOM prayer once a month. I praise God that each member of these two groups prays with others whom they are also inspiring to read through the Bible.
Milton Das
Director, Youth Department and Bangladesh Children’s Sponsorship Services of Seventh-day Adventists
