Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
OT/NT 3380
Dr. Clifton Black
11/27/11
within the Church needed the continuing wisdom and direction of the
Spirit as well.2
The response of the 12 apostles, while effectively diplomatic, was
curious. They tried to solve both problems: the obvious one at hand
(distribution to widows) and the underlying issue (communal discord).
To the apostles, and to Luke, both the care of the needy and the unity
of the church were of theological import. Simultaneously, the church
leaders needed to keep their focus on the calling Christ had given
them, namely, to preach the gospel. They did this by proposing a new
administrative office.
By allowing the multitude to select the candidates for this new
office of deacon the apostles were recognizing the ability of all
believers to hear from and be led by the Holy Spirit. The leaders
realized the necessity for these new leaders to be full of the Spirit and
wisdom, especially if the daily distribution was of funds, rather than
food. However, the way the apostles empowered the crowd deserves
some consideration. They claim, It is not desirable for us to neglect
the word of God in order to serve tables.3 A cursory reading of this
reasoning leads a reader to conclude that the apostles thought that
this serving tables was beneath them. While one could argue this, it
2 Stanley M. Horton, Acts : a Logion Press commentary (Springfield, Mo.: Logion Press,
2001), 136.
3 Parenthetically, the Greek word used here for tables, trapezais, is the same word used in
the Gospels of the moneychangers tables that Jesus turned over in the temple (Matt
21:12; Mark 11:15). It is used alternatively in scripture to refer to tables upon which food
is set (Mark 7:28; Acts 16:34)
Bibliography
Horton, Stanley M. Acts : A Logion Press Commentary. Springfield, Mo.: Logion Press,
2001.