20160606 Saturday, June 6 2016
Acts 06: Why Were They Called Deacons?

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"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"

"Deacon" and "Deaconess" are English-language words that were derived from the Greek word diaconos, meaning a servant. The original Greek word was used in a general sense for all servants, with no church designation, however the apostles adopted the term for individuals who were given the responsibility of taking care of practical matters within the congregation.

Why was a Greek word chosen?

The first "deacons" were "Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch." Notice that all of the first deacons had Greek names (i.e. Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas originated from the Greek names pronounced Stephanos, Philippos, Prochorus, Nikanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nikolaos). They were Greek-speaking Christians who could speak the Greek tongue (i.e. the Greek language; see The Origin Of Speaking In Tongues) to the Greek-speaking people.

Keep in mind that the entire New Testament itself was originally written primarily in Greek because it was still then the "world language" (see the Fact Finder question below).

So too, Luke, the writer of the Gospel Book of Luke and the Book of Acts was a Greek doctor who addressed Luke and Acts to a Greek nobleman named Theophilus (see Acts: Luke's Second Letter To Theophilus).

Further, the apostle Paul was the "apostle to the Gentiles" and conducted much of his ministry right in Greece itself (i.e. see 1 Corinthians: That Rock Was Christ and 2 Corinthians: The Devil's Fight Along The Way; also 1 Thessalonians: Prove All Things, Hold Fast What Is Good and 2 Thessalonians: The Falling Away Of The Son Of Perdition).

The qualifications applied equally to a deaconess as a deacon (see 1 Timothy 3:8-13). It is known from the writings of early church history after the close of the New Testament time that deaconesses served prominently by caring for needy fellow believers, visiting the sick, and assisting in the baptism of female converts. Phoebe is perhaps the best-known deaconess in the Bible record.

"16:1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant [i.e. deaconess] of the church which is at Cenchrea: 16:2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also." (Romans 16:1-2 KJV)

"4:2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. 4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life." (Philippians 4:2-3 KJV)

So it was then that the first Greek "servants" to the Greeks were chosen.

"6:1 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. 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 6:3 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. 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

6:5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6:6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

6:7 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." (Acts 6:1-7 KJV)

One of the deacons, Stephen, "full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people." As happened with the Messiah Himself, the self-blinded religious "authorities" of Jerusalem responded with fear and hate toward the Light (see Why Was The South A Dangerous Place? and Why Did They Fear The Miracles?).

"6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. 6:9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. 6:10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

6:11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.

6:12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, 6:13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: 6:14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.

6:15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel." (Acts 6:8-15 KJV)

Fact Finder: When did the Greek Empire spread the Greek language through the "world"?
See A History Of Jerusalem: Greeks, Ptolemies, Seleucids