Acts 6
1 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.
These are young students, "disciples" of The Word are teaching the Word of God, "daily ministration" and a conflict has risen because the widows don't understand the language being spoken. They only speak Greek and couldn't understand Hebrew.
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.
They shouldn't have to do other tasks when they had come to teach. These young students, "disciples" have the twelve disciples of Christ letting them know they should get their act together. There should have been an interpreter present for the Greek speaking people to understand what was being said in the Hebrew.
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
7 = spiritual completeness in biblical numerics.
4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
Nothing is going to distract them from teaching The Word. They're all in and dedicated fully each and everyday to teaching The Word of God. What was a once in a while thing, is now 24/7.
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
Stephen would be the one to boldly teach The Truth and by doing so bring more hate out of those that reject The Truth. Stephen is the one tried by the Sanhedrin and will be stoned for holding strong, being salt, where sugar is today, a man of unquestionable dedication to The Lord. We can read of his trial in The Book of Acts Ch.7.
6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
These seven are being prayed for blessings to be on them for the work they're about to do. Teaching The Word of God is not easy in an evil world, we need the blessings of God to do so.
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.
When you're "obedient to the faith" that faith will be blessed. The Word WILL increase the number of believers. What I care about is teaching The Word in Truth, that His Word is being taught, not my own. Because there are so many lies out there and deception is growing rapidly, that I pray my Father leads me in Him and for others come to know His Word through this. A doer, not just a hearer, "obedient to the faith."
8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
The Holy Spirit was with him, he was a can do Christian.
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.
The Truth speaks for itself. It's The Truth no matter what others may want it to be. Even satan hears it, but wants to twist it just enough so to confuse you. The Holy Spirit is speaking through Stephen and the wisdom they hear, you just can't dispute, but you'll always have stupidity and or ignorance fight you anyway.
11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
They're accusing Stephen with a very serious charge in speaking against the law. "suborned" ὑποβάλλω hypobállō, hoop-ob-al'-lo; from G5259 and G906; to throw in stealthily, i.e. introduce by collusion: (a person esp. a witness) to give false testimony.
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,
Sound familiar? These very religious people have joined forces with evil. They hate The Truth, so they take hold of the one speaking it and deliver them to the Sanhedrin and their religious court.
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.
The accusation is in reference to these suborned men talking about John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. But they're lacking the Truth because Christ was of course talking in a spiritual sense when He said it and these suborned men are just twisting things to meet their goals. Same happened to Christ in Matthew 26:61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
The Holy Spirit is lighting up the room through Stephen. His faith is facing them with a spiritual enlightenment that will cause them troubled minds. They won't know what hit them. The Truth does that to those who hate it.