第一批执事
使徒行传六章1至8节
1那时，门徒增多，有说希腊话的犹太人向希伯来人发怨言，因为在天天的供给上忽略了他们的寡妇。
2十二使徒叫众门徒来，对他们说：“我们撇下神的道去管理饭食，原是不合宜的。
3所以，弟兄们，当从你们中间选出七个有好名声、被圣灵充满、智慧充足的人，我们就派他们管理这事。
4但我们要专心以祈祷传道为事。”
5大众都喜悦这话，就拣选了司提反，乃是大有信心、圣灵充满的人；又拣选腓利、伯罗哥罗、尼迦挪、提门、巴米拿，并进犹太教的安提阿人尼哥拉，
6叫他们站在使徒面前。使徒祷告了，就按手在他们头上。
7神的道兴旺起来。在耶路撒冷门徒数目加增的甚多，也有许多祭司信从了这道。
8司提反满得恩惠能力，在民间行了大奇事和神迹。
信息分享
在前一章，我们看见撒但利用亚拿尼亚和撒非拉来欺哄神。然而，圣灵却让彼得知道实情，教会也因着两人的暴毙而学到一个严厉的教训。
来到这一章，撒但试图挑起内部的纷争，但神却再一次控制大局。我们在下一章更看见，教会遭到严峻的逼迫；但八章4节却把一个令人振奋的结果告诉我们：信徒被逼四散，结果便到处传扬福音。
我们从今天的经文看到，信徒只是因着一件小事而产生纷争。现实不也是经常如此吗？究竟是真的分配不公，还是一种错觉？说希腊话的寡妇觉得说犹大话的寡妇分得的食物比较多。今天的信徒岂不是一样？每当他们感到被忽略——是事实或只是错觉？就会产生不满。那里，不正是需要基督徒的恩典进来的地方吗？
众使徒立刻意识到要正视问题，因为它会令大家产生不和。然而，如果他们亲自去分配食物，岂不是要让祷告和传道这两件更重要的事工受损吗？
每当我们面对一些棘手或一触即发的情形，神总是会将特别的智慧赐给我们。使徒决定进行一次选举，选出七个人负责这项工作。值得一提的是，选出的七个人好像都有希腊名字。教会显然是要下决心来处理问题，以致以后不再会有人投诉分配不公。被选出的执事都是被圣灵充满、敬畏神的人，他们果然能够妥善处理问题。
如果神将教会中的一件事交给我们处理，我们会怎样回应呢？回答这个问题之前，我们最好停下来检视我们的内心。
THE FIRST DEACONS
Acts 6: 1-8
1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists,[a] because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.
3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;
4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,
6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.
7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
8 And Stephen, full of faith[b] and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
Message
In the previous chapter, Satan tried to use Ananias and Sapphira to cheat God. The Holy Spirit, however, allowed Peter to know the true story and the church was taught a severe lesson in their deaths.
In this chapter Satan tried to stir up internal dissension but again God over-ruled. The next chapter tells how further persecution began. But the thrilling words of Acts 8:4 tell us that the result was a scattering of the believers which actually meant they went everywhere preaching the Word.
According to our reading today, tension arose over a rather trifling matter. It often does. Was the inequality of distribution real or only imagined? The Greek-speaking widows felt that the Jewish-speakers were getting more than they were. Isn't it true that often Christians today become upset because they think they have been overlooked - either real or fancied? But isn't that where Christian grace comes in?
The apostles immediately realized that this matter needed to be dealt with. It could bring disharmony and if they themselves took charge of it, the more important matters of prayer and preaching would suffer.
The Lord must have given special wisdom as He often does when we are facing an awkward or even explosive situation. An election was held for seven men to take charge of this ministry. It is interesting to note that all of the men chosen had Greek-sounding names. That certainly seems to show how the church bent over backwards to resolve the situation so no one would have cause to complain about this distribution again. They were all godly men filled with the Spirit and they obviously handled the matter well.
If God gives us a job to do in the church, how do we respond? It would be well to stop and search our own hearts as we answer that question.