The Lord has ordained that ‘order’ be observed in His Church. He is the ‘King and Head of the Church’ and we must live by His laws.

It is a sign of disorder and rebellion whenever every man simply does what he THINKS is right in his own eyes. “In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes,” Judges 17:6. The verse before that shows what men do whenever they simply follow their own inclinations.

“And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest,” Judges 17:5. God’s Law was abandoned and man’s folly replaced it as the rule of life for this man Micah!

Here in Acts 6, pride and meanness had replaced God’s Law with regards the treatment of widows. However, the apostles, who were the authority under God in the church at that time, set out to put things right!

I. THIS NEW GOSPEL WORK WAS BEING ‘BUILT’ BY THE LORD.

The Saviour had promised to “build” His Church. That means He would ‘build up from the foundation’ His Church. Here in the verses we have ‘constructed’ a new layer of the government of he church. The position and role of the office of the ‘deacon’ is established by the apostles under the Lord’s instruction.

II. THE DEACON WAS TO BE A HOLY MAN CHOSEN BY THE CONGREGATION.

“Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business,” Acts 6:3.

1. The people of God are the ones who select their office-bearers. It is not the duty of just a few to put in place those who will govern the work of God but the members of the church. This was very different from the way nations were ruled back then and even still today!

2. Only a certain class of a believer was to be appointed “Seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom.” They must have a good testimony among men; be filled with the Holy Spirit and the wisdom that He grants. With such men guiding the affairs of the church it would progress.

3. The appointment of such men was then endorsed by the apostles. “Whom we may appoint over this business.”

4. The function of these ‘deacons’ was to relieve the apostles from such ‘earthly’ duties and enable them to concentrate on the ‘spiritual’ duties of “prayer, and . . the ministry of the word.” 

III. THIS NEW ARRANGEMENT PLEASED THE LORD.

“And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith,” verse  7. 

There is a wonderful little verse in Proverbs. “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him,” 16:7. There are new converts from the ranks of the enemies now becoming Christians!