Welcome to Acts 6: Growth, Grace, and Godly Service, where the Great Commission expands not only through bold proclamation but also through strategic organization and the Spirit-filled service of new leaders, demonstrating how internal harmony fuels external impact.

As the early church experiences phenomenal growth, new challenges arise from within its rapidly expanding community. Acts 6 highlights a crucial moment of transition and adaptation, where a potential internal conflict over the distribution of food is addressed through wisdom and divine guidance. This chapter introduces the selection of "the Seven" (often considered the first deacons), Spirit-filled men chosen to serve practical needs, thereby freeing the apostles to devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word. This strategic organizational shift proves vital, preventing division and further enabling the widespread proliferation of the gospel. Acts 6 powerfully demonstrates that effective advancement of the Great Commission requires not only courageous evangelism but also compassionate service and wise administration, ensuring unity and focus within the body of believers.

This pivotal chapter unfolds through two dynamic segments: the Selection of the Seven (Acts 6:1-7), and Stephen's Ministry and Arrest (Acts 6:8-15). These narratives inspire practical wisdom in church leadership, highlight the power of Spirit-filled service, and provide rigorous analysis to enrich teaching and research for all who seek to understand the foundational principles of the church's mission.

As we journey through Acts, each chapter serves as a profound illustration of the Acts2020Project's thematic framework. Acts 6, in particular, powerfully demonstrates all six core themes:

• The Great Commission: Actively advanced as the apostles are freed to preach, Stephen powerfully witnesses, and "the word of God kept on spreading... and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly."

• The Holy Spirit's Role: Evident in guiding the selection of the Seven, who are "full of the Spirit and of wisdom," and in empowering Stephen to perform great wonders and speak with irresistible wisdom.

• Teaching About Jesus and the Gospel: Carried forward by the apostles and powerfully demonstrated by Stephen, whose teaching leads to both conversion and fierce opposition.

• Prophecy Fulfillment: Demonstrated as the gospel's expansion continues to fulfill God's redemptive plan, despite internal and external obstacles.

• Christianity Accepted and Opposed: Reflected in the growing number of disciples, including many priests, juxtaposed with the rising, violent opposition against Stephen.

• Connecting Acts to the Rest of the NT: Shown through the establishment of a serving ministry (connecting to the roles of deacons in Pauline epistles) and the themes of wisdom and Spirit-filled living.

While all these themes are richly present, in alignment with our strategic focus from Acts 3 onward, the primary thematic exploration for Acts 6 will be The Great Commission. After we complete this first pass through Acts focusing solely on the Great Commission, we will return to Acts 6 to provide a deeper dive through the remaining five themes. This chapter, therefore, will be explored predominantly through the lens of how internal organization and Spirit-filled service enable the continued, explosive advancement of Jesus’s command to make disciples.

Dive into this transformative journey, enhanced by AI-human collaboration, and discover how healthy internal structure and Spirit-empowered individuals drive a mission that continues today, defining the essence of God's work through His people.