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The Seven Deacons
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。〃
The early church was made up of many classes of people； of various
nationalities。 At the time of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at
Pentecost； 〃there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews； devout men； out of every
nation under heaven。〃 Acts 2：5。 Among those of the Hebrew faith who were
gathered at Jerusalem were some commonly known as Grecians； between whom and
the Jews of Palestine there had long existed distrust and even antagonism。
The hearts of those who had been converted under the labors of the apostles；
were softened and united by Christian love。 Despite former prejudices； all
were in harmony with one another。 Satan knew that so long as this union
continued
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to exist； he would be powerless to check the progress of gospel truth； and
he sought to take advantage of former habits of thought； in the hope that
thereby he might be able to introduce into the church elements of disunion。
Thus it came to pass that as disciples were multiplied； the enemy succeeded
in arousing the suspicions of some who had formerly been in the habit of
looking with jealousy on their brethren in the faith and of finding fault
with their spiritual leaders； and so 〃there arose a murmuring of the
Grecians against the Hebrews。〃 The cause of complaint was an alleged neglect
of the Greek widows in the daily distribution of assistance。 Any inequality
would have been contrary to the spirit of the gospel； yet Satan had
succeeded in arousing suspicion。 Prompt measures must now be taken to remove
all occasion for dissatisfaction； lest the enemy triumph in his effort to
bring about a division among the believers。
The disciples of Jesus had reached a crisis in their experience。 Under the
wise leadership of the apostles； who labored unitedly in the power of the
Holy Spirit； the work committed to the gospel messengers was developing
rapidly。 The church was continually enlarging； and this growth in membership
brought increasingly heavy burdens upon those in charge。 No one man； or even
one set of men； could continue to bear these burdens alone； without
imperiling the future prosperity of the church。 There was necessity for a
further distribution of the responsibilities which had been borne so
faithfully by a few during the earlier days of the church。 The apostles must
now take an important step in
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the perfecting of gospel order in the church by laying upon others some of
the burdens thus far borne by themselves。
Summoning a meeting of the believers； the apostles were led by the Holy
Spirit to outline a plan for the better organization of all the working
forces of the church。 The time had come； the apostles stated； when the
spiritual leaders having the oversight of the church should be relieved from
the task of distributing to the poor and from similar burdens； so that they
might be free to carry forward the work of preaching the gospel。 〃Wherefore；
brethren；〃 they said； 〃look ye out among you seven men of honest report；
full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom； whom we may appoint over this business。
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer； and to the ministry of the
word。〃 This advice was followed； and by prayer and the laying on of hands；
seven chosen men were solemnly set apart for their duties as deacons。
The appointment of the seven to take the oversight of special lines of work；
proved a great blessing to the church。 These officers gave careful
consideration to individual needs as well as to the general financial
interests of the church； and by their prudent management and their godly
example they were an important aid to their fellow officers in binding
together the various interests of the church into a united whole。
That this step was in the order of God； is revealed in the immediate results
for good that were seen。 〃The word of God increased； and the number of the
disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly； and a great company of the
priests
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were obedient to the faith。〃 This ingathering of souls was due both to the
greater freedom secured by the apostles and to the zeal and power shown by
the seven deacons。 The fact that these brethren had been ordained for the
special work of looking after the needs of the poor； did not exclude them
from teaching the faith。 On the contrary； they were fully qualified to
instruct others in the truth； and they engaged in the work with great
earnestness and success。
To the early church had been entrusted a constantly enlarging workthat of
establishing centers of light and blessing wherever there were honest souls
willing to give themselves to the service of Christ。 The proclamation of the
gospel was to be world…wide in its extent； and the messengers of the cross
could not hope to fulfill their important mission unless they should remain
united in the bonds of Christian unity； and thus reveal to the world that
they were one with Christ in God。 Had not their divine Leader prayed to the
Father； 〃Keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me； that
they may be one； as We are〃？ And had He not declared of His disciples； 〃The
world hath hated them； because they are not of the world〃？ Had He not
pleaded with the Father that they might be 〃made perfect in one；〃 〃that the
world may believe that Thou hast sent Me〃？ John 17：11； 14； 23； 21。 Their
spiritual life and power was dependent on a close connection with the One by
whom they had been commissioned to preach the gospel。
Only as they were united with Christ could the disciples hope to have the
accompanying power of the Holy Spirit and
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the co…operation of angels of heaven。 With the help of these divine agencies
they would present before the world a united front and would be victorious
in the conflict they were compelled to wage unceasingly against the powers
of darkness。 As they should continue to labor unitedly； heavenly messengers
would go before them； opening the way； hearts would be prepared for the
reception of truth； and many would be won to Christ。 So long as they
remained united； the church would go forth 〃fair as the moon； clear as the
sun； and terrible as an army with banners。〃 Song of Solomon 6：10。 Nothing
could withstand her onward progress。 The church would advance from victory
to victory； gloriously fulfilling her divine mission of proclaiming the
gospel to the world。
The organization of the church at Jerusalem was to serve as a model for the
organization of churches in every other place where messengers of truth
should win converts to the gospel。 Those to whom was given the
responsibility of the general oversight of the church were not to lord it
over God's heritage； but； as wise shepherds； were to 〃feed the flock of
God；。 。 。 being ensamples to the flock〃 （1 Peter 5：2； 3）； and the deacons
were to be 〃men of honest report； full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom。〃 These
men were to take their position unitedly on the side of right and to
maintain it with firmness and decision。 Thus they would have a uniting
influence upon the entire flock。
Later in the history of the early church； when in various parts of the world
many groups of believers had been formed into churches； the organization of
the church was further
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perfected； so that order and harmonious action might be maintained。 Every
member was exhorted to act well his part。 Each was to make a wise use of the
talents entrusted to him。 Some were endowed by the Holy Spirit with special
gifts 〃first apostles； secondarily prophets； thirdly teachers； after that
miracles； then gifts of healings； helps； governments； diversities of
tongues。〃 1 Corinthians 12：28。 But all these classes of workers were to
labor in harmony。
〃There are diversities of gifts； but the same Spirit。 And there are
differences of administrations； but the same Lord。 And there are diversities
of operations； but it is the same God which worketh all in all。 But the
manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal。 For to
one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom； to another the word of
knowledge by the same Spirit； to another faith by the same Spirit； to
another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit； to another the working of
miracles； to another prophecy； to another discerning of spirits； to another
divers kinds of tongues； to another the interpretation of tongues： but all
these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit； dividing to every man
severally as He will。 For as the body is one； and hath many members； and all
the members of that one body； being many； are one body： so also is Christ。〃
1 Corinthians 12：4…12。
Solemn are the responsibilities resting upon those who are called to act as
leaders in the church of God on earth。 In the days of the theocracy； when
Moses was endeavoring to carry alone burdens so heavy that he would soon
have