Deacons

Were the men selected in Acts 6 deacons?

It seems that the kind of work they were asked to do was in similar fashion to the work that is later assigned to deacons. Stephen, one of the seven that was chosen, not only engaged in taking care of the widows in the daily offering but was, likewise, engaged in public teaching (Acts 6:8-10). If these men were deacons as to an office in the church, then they would have to meet the qualifications for that office. When we read what Paul penned about these qualifications, we see that deacons had to be married men with children (1 Timothy 3:12). So let's now come back to the case in Acts 6.

There was obviously a problem within the local church. The good thing was that there was growth. The bad thing is that "the Greek-speaking followers had an argument with the other Jewish followers. The Greek-speaking Jews said that their widows were not getting their share of the food that was given out every day" (Acts 6:1, NCV). It reached a level where the whole church was disturbed by the charges of the Grecians not being treated fairly. The apostles then called the whole church together. They were asked to look at all of the men in the church and choose seven whom the apostles could put in charge of this business. The purpose behind the action was to eliminate the problem so that the Grecian widows would be treated fairly. The plan "pleased the whole gathering" (vs. 5, ESV).

What were the qualifications of these seven men? They were to be men "of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom" (vs. 3, ESV). Nothing is said about their marital status. Neither does it state anything about them having or not having children. In the absence of this qualification, I do not conclude that these seven were deacons. I do see the work they were doing as what would be taking place later on in the church and handled by deacons. As each individual congregation was formed, the elders would rule over the flock (Hebrews 13:7,17). The deacons would help serve the Lord as a servant, under the oversight of these elders, pastors, or overseers. In Acts 6, the church is still young and elders and deacons have not been put in place.