“And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.”
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food - the 'Hellenistic Jews' (Hellēnistai) were Greek-speaking Jews, often from the diaspora; the 'Hebraic Jews' (Hebraioi) were Aramaic-speaking Palestinian Jews. The complaint is not doctrinal but practical: the widows of Hellenistic background are being neglected in the 'daily distribution' (diakonia, service). This reveals that the church's communal life, described in Acts 2:44-45 as spontaneous sharing, requires institutional structures to function justly.
Church Fathers on Acts 6:1
And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. (v. 41, 42.) And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Acts 6:1 Not absolutely in those immediate days; for it…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
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