Now in these days when the
disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the
Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. And the
twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, "It is not right that
we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore,
brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit
and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves
to prayer and to the ministry of the word." And what they said pleased the
whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy
Spirit, and Philip, and Proch'orus, and Nica'nor, and Ti'mon, and Par'menas,
and Nicola'us, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and
they prayed and laid their hands upon them. And the word of God increased; and
the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many
of the priests were obedient to the faith.
In a Nutshell
Luke tells us of a new development in the meantime also informs us that many of the converts were Gentiles who had accepted the God of Israel. If they were to be a community where the poor were looked after a new approach was needed.
Questions
Could the apostles' response have caused other problems?
The Jerusalem Synagogue of Jesus' disciples, led by the apostles, empowered and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, was growing. It's life, internally and externally, was blooming. It had had to confront various dangers, not only from the religious leaders and the Council, but also from the deceit of Ananias and Sapphira. Now, after the Council had decided to leave the apostles alone, the apostles were able to continue their work teaching the disciples. That was the indispensable service they had been commanded to undertake. That work was to be accomplished in the power of the Holy Spirit. But they also had to deal with the murmuring.
Luke tells us that as the community of believers grew they did not leave their ethnic backgrounds behind. At Pentecost God's Spirit had acted to bring believers together - Jews from all over the world heard God's message in their own tongues. Now however, the Greek-born believers found the distribution of resources and food was not working. A proper share was not getting to the widows in their family circles. So this matter was raised with the apostles.
The apostles decided they had to keep their focus upon the work Jesus had given to them. Management and oversight of the distribution - the "serving at tables" - would be given to a group chosen by the congregation. And so, Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Proch'orus, and Nica'nor, and Ti'mon, and Par'menas, and Nicola'us, a proselyte of Antioch were chosen. It is not clear if this Philip is Philip the apostle. Possibly not. Luke tells us later that both Stephen and Philip became known for their preaching. So, when the congregation chose this group to sort out and manage food distribution, they were not suggesting that the apostles were the only ones fitted to do that work. This episode tells us that apostles had preaching and teaching work to do which no-one else could do. Jesus Himself had schooled them to do it. They were the ones He had trained to "prepare the soil." All the other disciples then, and ever since, have been part of the work, broadcasting the seed and joining in the harvest.