The Choosing of the Seven - Acts 6:1-7
Understand It
- What complaint did the Grecian Jews make? (6:1)
- What did the apostles—the Twelve—do in response to criticism? (6:2-4)
- Why did the Twelve choose prayer and teaching over caring for the poor? (6:2-4)
- What did the Twelve tell the other believers to do? (6:3)
- How did the group respond to the apostles’ proposal? (6:5)
- Who was selected to serve the widows? (6:5)
- Who chose the seven candidates? (6:5)
- How were the men given authority to do their task? (6:6)
- What was the effect of the appointment of certain people to serve the widows? (6:7)
- How did the church fare after the apostles delegated the serving of food to others? (6:7)
Apply It
- How can you help free your church leaders to focus on their mission of prayer, evangelism, and teaching?
- What could you do this week to help resolve a conflict between believers?
Stephen Seized - Acts 6:8-15
Understand It
- Who was Stephen? (6:8)
- What kind of person was Stephen? (6:8)
- Besides caring for the needs of the widows, what did Stephen do among the people? (6:8)
- Who opposed Stephen? (6:9)
- Why couldn’t Stephen’s opponents get the better of him? (6:10)
- What kind of charges did Stephen’s enemies make against him? (6:11)
- How did the people react to the charges against Stephen? (6:12)
- How did the false witnesses misrepresent Stephen? (6:13-14)
- Why did certain people consider Stephen dangerous? (6:13-14)
- When those in the Sanhedrin looked at Stephen, what did they see? (6:15)
- What did the expression on Stephen’s face show about his relationship to God? (6:15)
Apply It
- How can you be open to God’s use this week?
- What can you do to copy Stephen’s example whenever you are falsely accused in some way?
- What do you want to remember the next time you are falsely accused?
