Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food.
And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait at tables.Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.”
What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
Note that this is affirmative action twice over. First there’s the need to correct the neglect of the “Hellenist” Christian widows. Then, second, there’s the commissioning of seven deacons, all apparently from among the Hellenist part of the Christian community, to address that neglect.
Note also what the author of Acts suggests was the result of this affirmative action: the church grew in Jerusalem. Correcting unfairness against one part of the group led the other part of the group to thrive even more.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In