BIBLE STUDY LESSON 08

SERIES U --- THE EARLY CHURCH

CARE FOR WIDOWS

A FACE THAT GLOWED

From Acts 6:1-15

As the number of believers increased, a few problems arose among them. For example, there was the time when the Greek-speaking believers complained that their widows were not getting as much in the daily distribution of food as the Hebrew-speaking widows. When the Twelve heard about this, they called together all of the disciples. [It isn’t right for us to be taking care of the distribution of food when we should be preaching the Word,] they said. [Choose seven men with good reputations, filled with the Spirit of YHVH, men of wisdom. We’ll put them in charge of this business. Then we can spend our time in prayer and teaching YHVH’s Word.] This seemed like a good idea and was accepted by everyone. The seven who were chosen were Stephen, a man of unusual faith and filled with Ruach HaKodesh, Philip, Prochorus, Nikanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a Gentile who had accepted the Jewish faith but who later became a believer. These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them and laid their hands upon them to commend them to their new work. Thus, the message of YHVH’s Word spread farther and farther, while the number of believers in Jerusalem grew daily. Even many of the priests began to believe in Yeshua. Stephen, a man of unusual faith and power, performed some outstanding miracles and wonders among the people. But some members of a synagogue called The Freedmen, along with some people from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia Minor, started an argument with Stephen. Because of Stephen’s great wisdom and spiritual power, they could not stand up to him. Therefore, they bribed some men to lie about Stephen, saying, [We have heard this man say some wicked things against Moses and even against YHVH.] This method was used to stir up crowds, as well as the elders and the scribes, against Stephen. He was arrested and brought before the council. The witnesses who had lied against Stephen came to repeat their charges before the council. [This man repeatedly says things against the temple and the Law,] they said. [We have heard him say that Yeshua of Nazareth would destroy the temple and change the Laws that Moses gave us.] The men of the council stared at Stephen, waiting to hear what he would say. But as they looked at him, they saw that his face took on the glow of an angel’s face.

COMMENTARY

FOODS AND MEALS

The community meals shared by the early believers were far different from the meals of their Roman neighbours, especially the wealthy Romans, who enjoyed extravagant banquets. Wealthy Romans often feasted on such delicacies as roast parrot, young deer, and boiled ham. They drank rare vintages of wine and made their bread from pure wheat flour. For dessert they enjoyed honeyed pastries and imported sweets. Not all Romans were wealthy, of course, but even the poorer ones observed many of the same customs. Romans did not observe the Jewish distinction of clean versus unclean animals. Romans reclined on couches to eat instead of sitting at tables or squatting on the ground. They also began their feasts by pouring out a cup of wine as an offering to their pagan gods. Most of the believers were not wealthy, and those who were pooled their money with the others so that all lived at a modest level. Thus, their food was simple. Since early believers were Jewish, they maintained the diet common to Jewish people of that time. Early believers and their Jewish neighbours ate fruits, vegetables, and milk products, a small amount of meat, and especially fish. Common foods were goats’ milk cheese, cucumbers, beans, lentils, and onions. At harvest time pomegranates, olives, grapes and dates were plentiful. During the winter months dried figs, raisins, almonds and walnuts were used more often. Bread was the basic food. It was the symbol of YHVH’s provision. For their daily bread both believers and Jewish people gave thanks to Him.