ACTS
CHAPTER SIX
OBSERVATION
STAGE
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
The purpose of
the observation stage is to maintain focus on the text at hand within the
normative rules of language, context and logic 
.which largely limits the observer to the
content offered by the books of Luke and Acts. Other passages must have a
relationship with the context at hand, such as a Scriptural quotation or
reference in the passage at hand. This will serve to avoid going on
unnecessary tangents elsewhere; and more importantly, it will provide the
framework for a proper and objective comparison with passages located
elsewhere in Scripture.
Remember that
something elsewhere may be true, but in the text at hand it may not be in
view.
****** EXCERPT
FROM ACTS CHAPTER 5 ******
OR
SKIP TO THE BEGINNING OF CHAPTER 6
(Acts
5:40-42) THE RULERS AGREED WITH GAMALIEL'S ADVICE TO NOT KILL THE
APOSTLES, BUT TO SET THEM FREE. SO THEY CALLED FOR THE APOSTLES' RETURN
TO THEM FROM OUTSIDE, HAD THEM BEATEN, COMMANDED THEM ONCE MORE NOT TO
SPEAK IN THE NAME OF JESUS, AND THEN LET THEM GO. AS THE APOSTLES WERE
DEPARTING FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE SANHEDRIN, THEY WERE REJOICING THAT
THEY WERE COUNTED WORTHY TO SUFFER SHAME FOR JESUS' NAME. AND DAILY IN
THE TEMPLE, AND IN EVERY HOUSE, THEY DID NOT CEASE TEACHING AND
PREACHING THE GOSPEL - JESUS AS THE CHRIST, IN THE SENSE THAT HE WAS THE
MESSIAH / SAVIOR WHO HAD COME TO BE AN ATONING SACRIFICE FOR THE SINS OF
ALL MANKIND, THAT THROUGH A MOMENT OF FAITH IN HIM WOULD COME SALVATION
UNTO ETERNAL LIFE
****** END
OF EXCERPT FROM ACTS CHAPTER 5 ******
I)
[Acts 6:1-15]:
A)
(Acts 6:1) NOW IN THOSE DAYS, WHEN THE NUMBER OF THE DISCIPLES WAS
MULTIPLYING, THERE AROSE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE HEBREWS BY THE
HELLENISTS, BECAUSE THEIR WIDOWS WERE NEGLECTED IN THE DAILY
DISTRIBUTION
1)
Animosity Between Judeans And Samaritans Stemmed From Very Early Times
And Fed On A Number Of Incidents In Their Respective Histories
B)
(Acts 6:2-6) THE TWELVE APOSTLES SUMMONED THE DISCIPLES AND DECLARED
THAT IT WAS NOT DESIRABLE THAT THEY SHOULD DEPART FROM TEACHING THE WORD
OF GOD TO SERVE TABLES. HENCE THE DISCIPLES WERE TO APPOINT SEVEN OF
THEIR OWN TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE GIFTS,
ESPECIALLY TO THE HELLENIST WIDOWS. WHERUPON THEY CHOSE STEPHEN, A MAN
FULL OF FAITH AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, PHILIP, PROCHOURUS, NICANOR, TIMON
PARMENAS AND NICOLAS, A PROSELYTE FROM ANTIOCH. THE APOSTLES PRAYED AND
LAID HANDS ON THEM. NOTE THAT GOD'S NEW ASSEMBLY OF BELIEVERS CONTINUED
TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES AS A REMNANT OF JEWS WHO BELIEVED IN JESUS OF
NAZARETH AS MESSIAH / SAVIOR. THE DOCTRINES UNIQUE TO THE CHURCH ARE NOT
YET IN VIEW
C)
(Acts 6:7) WITH THE APOSTLES' CONTINUING TO FOCUS EXCLUSIVELY UPON
PRAYER AND THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD OF GOD, THEIR MESSAGE WAS
INCREASINGLY SPREAD; AND THE NUMBER OF DISCIPLES WAS BEING MULTIPLIED
GREATLY IN JERUSALEM. AND A GREAT MANY OF THE PRIESTS BECAME DISCIPLES
AS WELL
D)
(Acts 6:8) STEPHEN, FULL OF FAITH AND THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT,
BEGAN PREACHING AND PERFORMING SIGNS AND WONDERS AMONGST THE PEOPLE.
THIS GIVES NOTICE THAT SUCH ACTIVITIES HAVE NOW BEEN EXTENDED TO
BELIEVERS WHO HAVE BECOME DISCIPLES
E)
(Acts 6:9-15) THEN THERE AROSE SOME FROM WHAT IS CALLED THE SYNAGOGUE OF
THE FREEDMEN [LIT., LIBERTINES] (CYRENIANS, ALEXANDRIANS, AND THOSE FROM
CILICIA AND ASIA), DISPUTING WITH STEPHEN. AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO
RESIST THE WISDOM AND THE SPIRIT BY WHICH HE [WAS SPEAKING]. THEN THEY
[SUBORNED] MEN TO SAY, 'WE HAVE HEARD HIM SPEAK BLASPHEMOUS WORDS
AGAINST MOSES AND GOD.' AND THEY STIRRED UP THE PEOPLE, THE ELDERS, AND
THE SCRIBES; AND THEY CAME UPON HIM, SEIZED HIM, AND BROUGHT HIM TO THE
COUNCIL. THEY ALSO SET UP FALSE WITNESSES WHO SAID, 'THIS MAN DOES NOT
CEASE TO SPEAK BLASPHEMOUS WORDS AGAINST THIS HOLY PLACE AND THE LAW;
FOR WE HAVE HEARD HIM [SAYING] THAT THIS JESUS OF NAZARETH WILL DESTROY
THIS PLACE AND CHANGE THE CUSTOMS WHICH MOSES DELIVERED TO US.' AND ALL
[WHO WERE SITTING] IN THE COUNCIL, [HAVING LOOKED INTENTLY] AT HIM, SAW
HIS FACE AS THE FACE OF AN ANGEL
Acts
chapter 7
