Once more the people murmured against Jesus, saying among themselves: “how can this man give us his flesh to eat?” (John 6:52). Obviously, Jesus wasn’t speaking literally, when he said: “the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6:51). Why didn’t these folks see that? Perhaps they did, but couldn’t think of a spiritual context in which to put his words. Read the rest of this entry »
Reading through Acts 6, I find most commentaries concluding that the 7 Grecian Jews (that is, Jews of the Diaspora who resettled in Jerusalem) whom the apostles anointed were the first deacons of the Church. However, I have to wonder how the ‘deacon interpretation’ began. Notice what the Scriptures say:
Acts 6:1-7 ASV Now in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. (2) And the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not fit that we should forsake the word of God, and serve tables. (3) Look ye out therefore, brethren, from among you seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. (4) But we will continue stedfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word. (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 Nicolaus a proselyte of Antioch; (6) whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands upon them. (7) And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
It seems to me that the murmuring was done for different reasons than the Grecian widows being slighted, because Acts 4:34-37 clearly shows no one lacked among the early believers at Jerusalem. In fact most of the money probably came from the Grecian Jews, because they tended to be in better financial condition than the Palestinian Jews. Why would the Jewish believers neglect the very body of people from whom most of the love gifts came? Read the rest of this entry »
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