Dialog

What was the crime Stephen was accused of? What cost him his life? The Book of Acts records:

Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.”[1]

“We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” The lexicon defines “blasphemous” as “defaming, denigrating, demeaning.” It doesn’t do to speak against traditions in any generation – especially to a room full of pilgrims. The members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen had come to Jerusalem from the farthest reaches of the empire. It has been my experience that these kinds of people are exceedingly zealous for customs and traditions. They came to worship at the Temple, but if the Temple wasn’t necessary anymore, then their journeys were in vain. Unthinkable! For a modern example, consider Cinco de Mayo. I suspect it is a much bigger holiday in America than it is in Mexico! Expats are more zealous to celebrate the ways of home than those living in “the old country.”

The same is often true in churches when traditions are threatened. Even though I live in wheat country now, I’m not excited to sing “Bringing in the Sheaves.” When I was a child living near the dairy farms of Washington, I thought we were singing, “Bringing in the Cheese.” That made more sense because I had no idea what a sheave was. Now that I do, it isn’t relevant. Farmers don’t set up sheaves in wheat fields anymore!

Many songs are like that. The old song, “I’ll fly away,” offends me. Jesus isn’t even mentioned, but just try to fly away without him! When I was a little child, my mother would rock me to sleep in her lap singing, “I come to the garden alone.” It was such a beautiful song, and a dear memory, but I have no idea what that song means! In my opinion, “The Old Rugged Cross” borders on — but now I find myself guilty of Stephen’s offense. Traditions are nurtured by feelings – often deeply cherished memories. To speak against them or to ignore them is to invite disaster.

Did Stephen do the wrong thing by “speaking against Moses”? Of course not! He was full of the Holy Spirit. Could he have worded his defense differently? I don’t think so. To win their argument, his opponents were willing to lie (Acts 6:11), and now the broken pieces of their synagogue can be found in the bottom of an ancient cistern.[2]

Sometimes we must fearlessly speak up, even if it means being rocked to sleep by the mob.

  [1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ac 6:11–14). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

[2] https://members.bib-arch.org/biblical-archaeology-review/29/4/14

And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people (Acts 6:8).
 
Stephen, the first Christian martyr, is the most famous of the Seven deacons of the church in Jerusalem. The deacons were chosen to “serve tables” (Acts 6:2), but that expression can mean more than just filling the food bowls of the widows. It can also describe what we would call bookkeeping. With all of the gifts and needs of the church, they held positions of great responsibility. In addition, the deacons were also evangelists. Philip, for example, went on to preach in Samaria and converted the Ethiopian official. Likewise, Stephen preached in the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Acts 6:9).
 
A few years before the First World War, a French archaeologist named Raymond Weill discovered the Theodotos Inscription and fragments from a first-century synagogue in the old part of Jerusalem near the Gihon Spring. Biblical Archaeology Review reported:
 
Hundreds of synagogues stood in ancient Jerusalem before their destruction by Titus’s Roman forces in 70 A.D.; in one of them hung the following Greek inscription, carved prominently into the 25-by-17-inch limestone slab shown above: ‘Theodotus son of Vettenus, priest and synagogue leader, son of a synagogue leader, grandson of a synagogue leader, rebuilt this synagogue for the reading of the Law and the teaching of the commandments, and the hostelry, rooms and baths, for the lodging of those who have need from abroad. It was established by his forefathers, the elders and Simonides.’ The fact that the language of the inscription is Greek, not Hebrew, and its allusion to ‘those who have need from abroad,’ suggests that this synagogue was used by Jews from the Diaspora and that it housed large numbers of visiting pilgrims. Some scholars have identified it with the Synagogue of the Freedmen (former slaves in the Roman Empire), mentioned in Acts 6:9.[1]
 
The book of Acts tells us Jews from the Diaspora, including Cilicia, the home of Saul of Tarsus (the Apostle Paul), debated with Stephen there. These Jews who came from far away firmly held their traditions and interpretations, but they were no match for Stephen and the power of the Holy Spirit. He was “full of grace and power” (Acts 6:3).
 
What does it mean to be “full of grace”? The United Bible Society’s Translator’s Handbook explains: “In the biblical sense to be ‘full of grace’ means that God’s grace and blessing are uniquely present and perceptible in the life of a person; whereas in contemporary English ‘full of grace’ might suggest that a person is full of charm and persuasiveness.”[2] They translate this phrase: “A man richly blessed by God.” Notice the blessing is described as “full of power.”
 
When we realize how much God loves us, and blesses us, our lives are full of His power!
 

[1] Downloaded on August 28, 2018, from https://members.bib-arch.org/biblical-archaeology-review/29/4/14
[2] Newman, B. M., & Nida, E. A. (1972). A handbook on the Acts of the Apostles (p. 138). New York: United Bible Societies.

When Satan couldn’t stamp out the Christians using persecution, he tried to destroy them from within. With all of the Greek-speaking visitors from the day of Pentecost, who probably stayed with the Jewish Christians in the city, there was a tremendous economic burden on the community there. After all, who would want to go to their homes so far away when Jesus was going to come again? Everyone wanted to learn about Jesus from the apostles and be part of the loving fellowship of Christians in Jerusalem.

To meet the economic need, “they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need” (Acts 2:45). There was a daily distribution of food, but a misunderstanding nearly tore the church apart. “Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution” (Acts 6:1). Fortunately, love triumphs over misunderstandings. The “Hebrews” (Native Aramaic-speaking Jews) chose seven men, probably “Hellenists” (Greek-speaking Jews who were visitors to Jerusalem), to oversee the distribution. It was as if the Hebrews said, “Brothers and sisters if you feel that we have wronged you by neglecting your widows, we will let you oversee this program and even take care of our Hebrew widows!” Division was averted, and Satan lost.

One of the seven men who was chosen to care for the widows was Philip. Like the other six men, Philip was recognized for being full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. He cared about people! Unfortunately, after this, Stephen, another one of the men chosen to care for the widows, was stoned and became the first martyr. “And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles” (Acts 8:1). This included Philip, who hung up his apron and joyfully began preaching to the Samaritans (Acts 8:1 – 25). Again, love triumphs over prejudice! The Jews and the Samaritans hated each other, but the gospel of love, brought by Philip, broke down those barriers. It’s no wonder God chose Philip to take the good news to an Ethiopian official on a lonely desert road (Acts 8:26 – 40). The chapter concludes when “the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more” (Acts 8:39).

I’ve always found it interesting that God made Philip walk all the way to the Gaza road, then run to catch up to the Ethiopian’s chariot, but miraculously carried the evangelist to Azotus. From there, Philip continued to preach up the coast of Judah until he arrived at the Roman city of Caesarea, where he settled down, found a wife, and raised four daughters who became prophetesses (Acts 21:9).

So what can we learn from this Philip?

• He was willing to serve.
• He was ready to preach the Good News to everyone, including outcasts.
• Philip listened – and obeyed!
• Philip was a family man.

In many ways, the last of the Seven Deacons of the early church in Jerusalem is the most interesting. From the book of Acts, we know Nicolaus had a good reputation, was full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. Luke also tells us, Nicholaus was not a native Jew. Like the Ethiopian Eunuch, who comes two chapters later (Acts 8:26 – 42), Nicholaus was a convert – a proselyte. Perhaps Luke mentions this to help prepare us for the spread of the Gospel to the Gentiles. Being a proselyte gave Nicolaus a special appreciation for the people of God and unique insights.

Later, twice in the book of Revelation, a heretical sect called the “Nicolaitans” is mentioned. Jesus tells the Ephesian church: “Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate,” and he tells the church in Pergamum, “you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent” (Revelation 2:14 – 16). Because of the similarity of “Nicolaus” to the “Nicolaitans,” many ancient writers believe Nicolaus the Deacon fell away and started this heresy in Asia Minor.

What was the heresy? Revelation 2:14 tells us they “hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.” (See Numbers 25:1; 31:16; 1 Corinthians 10:8.) The last of the Western Fathers was Isidore of Seville, who explained in his book Etymologies, book VIII, titled The Church and Sects (635 A.D.), “The Nicolaites (Nicolaitso-called called from Nicolaus, deacon of the church of Jerusalem, who, along with Stephen and the others, was ordained by Peter. He abandoned his wife because of her beauty so that whoever wanted to might enjoy her; the practice turned into debauchery, with partners being exchanged in turn. Jesus condemns them in the Apocalypse, saying (2:6): ‘But this thou hast, that thou hates the deeds of the Nicolaites.’”

Although I am not convinced, Nicolaus was the founder of the Nicolaitans, this explanation of what the sect believed is probably true. Christianity breaks from every other religion through the teaching of salvation by grace. Most people (even today) think you’ve got to be “good enough” to go to heaven, so the doctrine of grace is frequently misunderstood. “If we are freed from legalism,” they might argue, “then we are free to do whatever we like.” (The technical term for this belief is antinomianism. See 1 Corinthians 6) Some heretics, such as Cerenthus, even argued Christians should experience sin to appreciate forgiveness!

Many early Church Fathers linked Nicolaus and the Nicolaitans. Irenaeus (c. 130 – c. 202 A.D.) wrote: “The Nicolaitanes are the followers of that Nicolas who was one of the seven first ordained to the diaconate by the apostles. They lead lives of unrestrained indulgence. The character of these men is very plainly pointed out in the Apocalypse of John, [when they are represented] as teaching that it is a matter of indifference to practice adultery and to eat things sacrificed to idols (Adversus haereses, i. 26). Hippolytus of Rome (c. 170 – c. 235 A.D.) agreed (Refutation of All Heresies vii. 24).

On the other hand, Clement of Alexandria (c. 150 – c. 215 A.D.) disagreed, as did Eusebius (260/265 – 339/340 A.D.).

The most likely explanation was that the Nicolaitans falsely claimed Nicolaus as their founder to give themselves credibility. History records Nicolaus had a beautiful wife, faithful daughters, and a son who followed in his father’s exemplary footsteps.

As much as we would like to know more about the Seven first “deacons” of the church in Jerusalem, for most of them, we are limited to knowing just their names. Parmenas is one of those. His name is a shortened form of Parmenides. The legends surrounding his story are too late and too conflicting to trust, but that’s alright. The scriptures tell us three things, and that’s enough. He was “of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom” (Acts 6:3). Since we have already spent time contemplating what it means to have a good reputation and how we can identify someone full of the Holy Spirit, let’s consider the virtue of wisdom.

“Sophia” is the Greek word for wisdom, and it describes “the capacity to understand and function accordingly.”[1] Wisdom is more than just the accumulation of knowledge. It is the ability to apply that knowledge. A person might know a great deal and still be a fool. Much of the Old Testament is devoted to acquiring wisdom. The book of Proverbs begins:

The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: 

 2   To know wisdom and instruction, 

to understand words of insight, 

 3   to receive instruction in wise dealing, 

in righteousness, justice, and equity; 

 4   to give prudence to the simple, 

knowledge and discretion to the youth— 

 5   Let the wise hear and increase in learning, 

and the one who understands obtain guidance, 

 6   to understand a proverb and a saying, 

the words of the wise and their riddles (Proverbs 1:1 – 6).

Isaac Asimov observed: “The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.” So how do we become wise like Parmenas and the other six? Confucius said, “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” Terry Pratchett shared, “Wisdom comes from experience. Experience is often a result of a lack of wisdom.” On the other hand, I like this corollary: “True wisdom comes from experience, but it doesn’t always have to be yours.”

How do we know we have become wise? The color of your hair often reveals it! (“It’s not grey. It’s silver!”) I believe it comes as we meditate on our experiences, guided by the insights of the Holy Spirit. When we listen to the Holy Spirit, we may not understand why something is dangerous, but by faith, we accept his guidance, and, in time, we will understand the outcomes.

  [1] Arndt, W., Danker, F. W., Bauer, W., & Gingrich, F. W. (2000). A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature (3rd ed., p. 934). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

 History says, after Timon left Jerusalem, he traveled north to Bosra in southern Syria, where he preached and served as an elder. Tradition says Timon angered the pagan ruler of the city who had Timon thrown into a red-hot furnace where he died a martyr’s death.
 
Today Bosra is a major UNESCO World Heritage Site and was the scene of violent fighting during the Syrian civil war. The town is also important to Muslims. Bosra is a major stop for pilgrims making the annual hajj pilgrimage between Damascus and Mecca, and Medina. There is a shrine there honoring the mabrak annaqa (“camel’s knees”), “which marked the imprints of the camel the prophet Muhammad rode on when he entered Bosra in the early 7th-century.”[1]
 
According to history, Timon’s ministry in Bosra resulted in the conversion of the city to Christianity until the Muslim invasion in the Fifth Century. Again, sadly, other than one verse in the book of Acts, we know precious little about this man of faith. From the holy text, though, we know Timon was a servant-leader. He was willing to “wait on tables” if that was what was needed. He was willing to care for the helpless widows – Greek and Aramaic-speaking. No job was insignificant!
 
Do you remember the story of Jesus washing the smelly feet of the apostles? At the conclusion, Jesus told the Twelve (and us):
 
When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them (John 13:12 – 17).
 
Timon was just such a man.

  



 [1] Downloaded from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosra

  

The seven “deacons” of the church in Jerusalem were chosen because of their good reputations and the fact that they were full of the Holy Spirit. Nicanor was one of those men. Like Prochorus, who was mentioned before him, Nicanor had an excellent reputation. We can understand what that means, but how would you know if someone was full of the Holy Spirit?

Nicanor may have received gifts from the Holy Spirit through the hands of the Apostles. Acts 6:6 says, “These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them,” and we know at least one of the seven performed miracles later on (Philip in Samaria, Acts 8:6 – 7) so that’s a possibility. But let’s discount that for a moment. The Jerusalem Christians recognized Nicanor was full of the Holy Spirit – that’s the promise made to everyone who is baptized (Acts 2:38). What did they see? The same things we see today in the life of a believer: change and growth.

The Holy Spirit produces fruit in the life of the believer (Galatians 5:22 – 23). Jesus told us not to judge other people (Matthew 7:1 – 6). Marshall Keeble agreed and wisely claimed just to be a “fruit inspector” (See Matthew 7:16).

Peter and John were tried before the Sanhedrin, and they recognized the difference in the apostles’ lives: “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).

Perhaps people had seen changes in Nicanor’s life too. That makes me wonder as we close our devotional today, what changes are the result of the Holy Spirit working in my life? Or, as the old preacher challenged us, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

Note: We know virtually nothing other than what is recorded in Scripture (Acts 6) concerning Nicanor. I have been able to find three legends concerning how he died, and they all conflict. Some say he suffered with Stephen and was stoned in Jerusalem, but why wouldn’t the Bible mention that? Others say he was only injured and returned to his home in Cyprus, where he died. Finally, others say he died of old age in Jerusalem. I think we will have to wait until we meet him to know the rest of the story!

After Stephen, the first Christian martyr, and Philip the Evangelist, comes Prochorus, the first of the lesser-known “Deacons” of the church in Jerusalem. He is only mentioned in this one verse of the Bible (Acts 6:) but many legends are associated with him. These stories aren’t inspired, so we can’t be 100% sure they are accurate, but they reflect the legends of the early church.

We know Prochorus was a man full of “good repute, full of the Holy Spirit, and of wisdom” (Acts 6:3). Legend says he was one of the 70 Jesus chose to carry the Gospel (Luke 10), but he is not explicitly named in that passage. Next, the traditions said Prochorus accompanied Peter to Asia Minor and was made an elder in the city of Nicomedia. From there, he is associated with the Apostle John and acted as John’s scribe. Some even believe Prochorus was exiled with John to Patmos and took down John’s dictation of the book of Revelation. There is also a fifth-century apocryphal book, “The Acts of John,” attributed to him, but that is impossible, so let’s go back to what we do know.

As we think about Prochorus, I’d like to focus on the first quality of these seven men. They were “full of good repute.” He had a good reputation. I like what Henry Ford said: “You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.” Reputation is built over time. It’s about who you are and what you’ve done, so perhaps Prochorus had been a follower of Jesus. He may have been one of the seventy Jesus chose, and Prochorus even might have been one of the 120 in the Upper Room on the day of Pentecost. People knew him, and they trusted him. Prochorus and the others were men you could count on.

We need to guard our reputations. Warren Buffett said, “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” What can we do to build our good reputation? First, we need to be honest. The Bible is full of injunctions not to be hypocritical, to keep our speech simple and our thoughts pure. Reputation is built on actions, and Prochorus was a man you could count on.

So how is your reputation? You don’t build a good reputation by trying to live two different lives. Like Popeye, the Sailor said, “I yam what I yam an’ tha’s all I yam.” George Washington pointed out, “Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.” Finally, Thomas Paine observed, “Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us.”

Almost as famous as the twelve apostles were the seven “deacons” of the Church in Jerusalem:

“And what they said pleased the whole gathering, 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 Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch” (Acts 6:5).

What do we know about these seven men? Stephen was the first Christian martyr, and this Philip overshadows Philip the Apostle. He preached to the Samaritans, baptized the Ethiopian official, and housed the Apostle Paul on his way to Jerusalem. But what about the others? This week, let’s spend some time exploring these good Christian men, but first, some background information.

Can you imagine the excitement of coming to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of Pentecost? That Sunday morning, shortly after dawn, the age of the Holy Spirit dawned. The streets of Jerusalem were filled with the mighty roar of a wind – like the sound of a Kansas tornado – but not a leaf of a single tree was stirred. People fell out of their homes and followed the sound to find twelve Galileans praising God in a dozen languages from every corner of the Empire.

After hearing Peter’s sermon, 3,000 people were baptized, and in the days to come, no one wanted to return to their far-away homes. Their funds would have quickly run out, but the love of those first Christians made sure no one was hungry. It was a beautiful time, but it is said both guests and fish begin to stink after three days. It was only natural for squabbles to arise. In those days, there were two groups in Jerusalem: the native, Aramaic-speaking Jews who lived there and the Greek-speaking visitors from far away. Both groups had little, black-clad widows who stood in line awaiting the daily distribution of food. However, one day there was a misunderstanding, perhaps caused by a confusion between their languages. The rumor began, and it nearly split the Church.

“Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution” (Acts 6:1).

Misunderstanding can quickly become a crisis! The apostles could have given up their ministry of teaching and preaching to make sure the widows were fed, but the wisdom of the Holy Spirit prevailed. The Church chose seven men to oversee this ministry. It is a measure of their love that they chose seven men with Greek names to tend these tables. It was as if the Aramaic-speaking Christians said, “We didn’t do this intentionally! Therefore, we will choose Greek-speaking Christians to take care of the Greek-speaking widows and our widows as well!”

Love triumphed!

Peter was exhausted – but happier than he could ever remember. Yesterday was Pentecost, and the age of the Holy Spirit dawned. How did he feel the day after? Can you imagine just the logistics of baptizing 3,000 people? (Don’t worry. Archaeology has confirmed there were plenty of pools to baptize people in!) Still, if 12 Apostles baptize 250 people apiece, it was a possible thing. Of course, if it takes 5 minutes to baptize someone, that still adds up to over 20 hours of work! I suspect some of the 120 disciples in the Upper Room helped the process along.

What was left to be done? I’m pretty sure the day after Pentecost, they didn’t form a building committee, organize Life Groups, or plan potlucks! Those new disciples needed to hear the story of Jesus – what he said and what he did. The crowds met in the porches of the Temple to listen to the apostles teach just that. The Sermon on the Mount was repeated over and over. The stories of Jesus casting out demons and healing people were told again and again. It was new, and it was exciting. Above all, there must have been an air of urgency and excitement. A little over a week before, the apostles watched Jesus ascend into heaven. “He’s coming back! Are you ready?”

The priests, the Sadducees, and the Pharisees were frustrated. They had lost control. The love of the Christians filled the city.

“And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:46 – 47).

It’s more than the day after the day after Pentecost, but Jesus is still coming back. What do we need to do to fan the fires of expectation and urgency into a flame?