Acts 6-7

(taught on June 15, 2008)

(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.

· Hellenists were devotees or students of the Greek language and culture, especially a Jew of the dispersion (Diaspora).

(Acts 6:2) Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.

(Acts 6:3) "Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;

· The apostles here asked the multitude to select the seven, whereas when a twelfth disciple was to be chosen, they organized it and let God choose (Acts 1:20-26).

· Here he lists the qualities of a godly man who is worthy to take office in a church. These qualities are further defined in Titus 1:5-9 and 1 Tim 3:1-9 (see notes on these verses at the bottom of this page).

· The qualities listed here:

· of good reputation - those who know him respect and think highly of him

· full of the Holy Spirit - allows God to work through him; does not have attitudes that quench the Spirit (like prayerlessness, unforgiveness, anger, selfishness)

· wisdom - "makes decisions as God would"; how does he make decisions? can you see God's influence in his decision making?

· Without these character traits, the man would not qualify for what the apostles were looking for. These traits were needed, as these men would be spiritual leaders of many people, although mostly in worldly matters (see vs 4).

(Acts 6:4) "but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

· The seven were to be selected to manage the worldly affairs of the believers, so the apostles could focus on prayer and the ministry.

(Acts 6:5) And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,

· These 7 were chosen, as they met the qualifications, and it was well known that they did. They were respected as men of God.

· Stephen was among the 7, and it was made clear that he met the criteria, and probably excelled in his faith.

· Antioch has been inhabited since the time of Christ, and is now the modern city of Antakya, Turkey. It is the place where the followers of Jesus Christ were called Christians for the very first time (Acts 11:26). The city and its massive walls also played an important role during the Crusades. The Siege of Antioch took place during the First Crusade in 1097 and 1098. The first siege, by the crusaders against the Muslim city, lasted from October 21, 1097, to June 2, 1098. The second siege, against the crusaders who had occupied it, lasted from June 7 to June 28, 1098.

(Acts 6:6) whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.

· God's use of the laying on of hands symbolizes the bestowal of blessings, authority and distinctiveness. It is a symbolic act designed to represent God Himself setting a person apart for a holy use, whether for service, healing, protection and guidance or blessing. See notes on Heb 6:2.

(Acts 6:7) Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

· First the 3000 (2:41), then the 5000 (4:4), and now the number if greatly multiplied. And these, all in Jerusalem. And these weren't just the rank and file, but all some of the Jewish leaders.

(Acts 6:8) And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.

· It wasn't just the apostles who had been given the ability to perform miracles.

(Acts 6:9) Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen.

· It is interesting that God showed his agreement with Stephen by the miracles Stephen was performing, and yet there were those who ignored that and disagreed. Once again this shows that even with miracles, people with disagree and not believe.

(Acts 6:10) And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.

· These men debated with Stephen, but God was giving Stephen the words to speak. May we also be confident that God will give us the words to speak when needed to defend the faith.

(Acts 6:11) Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God."

· Since they could not successfully debate him (vs 10), they spread lies about him.

(Acts 6:12) And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council.

· Even when you are completely within God's will (as shown by Stephen's miracles - vs 8), that doesn't guarantee safety. In fact, it typically increases the risk. People don't like to hear the truth when they are not believers.

· This is the same council that Peter and John had been brought to (Acts 4:5-7).

· It sounds like it was a mob that seized Stephen.

(Acts 6:13) They also set up false witnesses who said, "This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law;

(Acts 6:14) "for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us."

(Acts 6:15) And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.

· I wonder what they say. It's not as if they had seen angels before, and recognized it to be like an angel. Probably Luke was describing in his way what they were seeing.

(Acts 7:1) Then the high priest said, "Are these things so?"

· I imagine there was some chaos, as people were accusing Stephen (6:13-14).· I wonder what they say. It's not as if they had seen angels before, and recognized it to be like an angel. Probably Luke was describing in his way what they were seeing.

(Acts 7:1) Then the high priest said, "Are these things so?"

· I imagine there was some chaos, as people were accusing Stephen (6:13-14). The high priest (Annas - 4:6) heard the accusations, and let Stephen speak in his defense. As Peter had done, Stephen spoke very boldly and did not withhold his words.

(Acts 7:2) And he said, "Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,

· Stephen starts out showing that he is not a ignorant Jew, that he knows very well the lineage of facts and purpose for the Hebrew history that led up to the time of Jesus (vss 2-50).

(Acts 7:3) "and said to him, 'Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.'

(Acts 7:4) "Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell.

(Acts 7:5) "And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child, He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him.

(Acts 7:6) "But God spoke in this way: that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into bondage and oppress them four hundred years.

(Acts 7:7) 'And the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will judge,' said God, 'and after that they shall come out and serve Me in this place.'

(Acts 7:8) "Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs.

(Acts 7:9) "And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him

(Acts 7:10) "and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

(Acts 7:11) "Now a famine and great trouble came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers found no sustenance.

(Acts 7:12) "But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.

(Acts 7:13) "And the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph's family became known to the Pharaoh.

(Acts 7:14) "Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob and all his relatives to him, seventy-five people.

(Acts 7:15) "So Jacob went down to Egypt; and he died, he and our fathers.

(Acts 7:16) "And they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem.

(Acts 7:17) "But when the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt

(Acts 7:18) "till another king arose who did not know Joseph.

(Acts 7:19) "This man dealt treacherously with our people, and oppressed our forefathers, making them expose their babies, so that they might not live.

(Acts 7:20) "At this time Moses was born, and was well pleasing to God; and he was brought up in his father's house for three months.

(Acts 7:21) "But when he was set out, Pharaoh's daughter took him away and brought him up as her own son.

(Acts 7:22) "And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.

(Acts 7:23) "Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel.

(Acts 7:24) "And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian.

(Acts 7:25) "For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand.

(Acts 7:26) "And the next day he appeared to two of them as they were fighting, and tried to reconcile them, saying, 'Men, you are brethren; why do you wrong one another?'

(Acts 7:27) "But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?

(Acts 7:28) 'Do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?'

(Acts 7:29) "Then, at this saying, Moses fled and became a dweller in the land of Midian, where he had two sons.

(Acts 7:30) "And when forty years had passed, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire in a bush, in the wilderness of Mount Sinai.

(Acts 7:31) "When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he drew near to observe, the voice of the Lord came to him,

(Acts 7:32) "saying, 'I am the God of your fathers; the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' And Moses trembled and dared not look.

(Acts 7:33) 'Then the LORD said to him, "Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.

(Acts 7:34) "I have surely seen the oppression of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt."'

(Acts 7:35) "This Moses whom they rejected, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge?' is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush.

(Acts 7:36) "He brought them out, after he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years.

(Acts 7:37) "This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, 'The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear.'

(Acts 7:38) "This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us,

(Acts 7:39) "whom our fathers would not obey, but rejected. And in their hearts they turned back to Egypt,

(Acts 7:40) "saying to Aaron, 'Make us gods to go before us; as for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.'

(Acts 7:41) "And they made a calf in those days, offered sacrifices to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.

(Acts 7:42) "Then God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets: 'Did you offer Me slaughtered animals and sacrifices during forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?

(Acts 7:43) You also took up the tabernacle of Moloch, And the star of your god Remphan, Images which you made to worship; And I will carry you away beyond Babylon.'

(Acts 7:44) "Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as He appointed, instructing Moses to make it according to the pattern that he had seen,

(Acts 7:45) "which our fathers, having received it in turn, also brought with Joshua into the land possessed by the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers until the days of David,

(Acts 7:46) "who found favor before God and asked to find a dwelling for the God of Jacob.

(Acts 7:47) "But Solomon built Him a house.

(Acts 7:48) "However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says:

(Acts 7:49) 'Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the LORD, Or what is the place of My rest?

(Acts 7:50) Has My hand not made all these things?'

· Stephen concludes his survey of Jewish history showing that God dwells in hearts and not in buildings. The heart is was is beautiful and glorious to God, not the temple.

· Ah, the glory and beauty of the structure God has built into the hearts of Uncle Ermal and Aunt Gloria, some of his most beautiful creations. May we stand in awe when we see a great heart so much more than when we see a great structure.

(Acts 7:51) "You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.

· Why did Stephen jump so suddenly from his discourse? He may have detected that the council was getting impatient with him. They were patient through his discourse of the Hebrew history, but he started to veer from that.

· They, like their fathers, were inflexible (stiffnecked) to the word of God. Anything that deviated from their understanding was unacceptable. (As if to say, "You are stiffnecked!" "What?! No we aren't!")

· It was circumcision that separated the Jew from the Gentiles. Then what strong words these are, to tell them that in the heart, where it counts, they were uncircumcised, saying in effect they were not God's people!

· And, they resist the Holy Spirit - they are fighting against God.

(Acts 7:52) "Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers,

· More harsh words. More truthful words. He tells them they killed the Christ, the righteous one. He calls them betrayers (Benedict Arnolds) and murderers.

(Acts 7:53) "who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it."

· More harsh words. More truthful words. He accuses them, those who preserve and convey the law, that they themselves do not follow the law.

(Acts 7:54) When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.

· Even though it was harsh words, it was truth. We see obviously that their reaction was completely wrong. Ah, but how do you react when someone presents you with the truth, something you may not like to hear, someone reproving you? Especially when not said with mercy?

· Compare to how strong Nathan's words were to David when confronting him with his sin with Bathsheba (2 Sam 12:7). And then see how David reacted - 2 Sam 12:13.

(Acts 7:55) But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,

· Some say Jesus was standing to show Stephen he was paying close attention to this situation.

(Acts 7:56) and said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!"

(Acts 7:57) Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord;

· These men are on the Jewish council, the body of the elders of the people, held to be the most godly of the Hebrews. Look how they reacted. When confronted with the truth, which probably most were deathly afraid to do, they reacted this way. This is in stark contrast with the character of Stephen that got him selected to the seven (Acts 6:1-5).

(Acts 7:58) and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

· When you hear of Stephen's stoning, it seems like such an ancient form of punishment. Yet, today, many people in our world are still put to death by stoning, notably women in some areas of Iraq when they marry or go away with men of whom the family does not approve.

· This is the first we read of Saul (Paul). What a huge transformation that takes place in him!

(Acts 7:59) And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

(Acts 7:60) Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

· Ranking of the top 25 Persecuting Countries Against Christions, ranked in 2007:

· North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Somalia, Maldives, Yemen, Bhutan, Vietnam, Laos, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, China, Eritrea, Turkmenistan, Comoros, Chechnya, Pakistan, Egypt, Myanmar, Suda, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Brunei, Cuba, Qatar

· Examples of modern martyrs:

· (Philippines) On April 15, 2008, Pastor Vic Vicera, his wife, Beth; and another Pastor were shot at when an unknown assailant stormed Pastor Viceras home in Mindanao, Philippines, and started shooting. Pastor Vicera was killed in the attack.

· (North Korea) Mr. Son Jong Nam was an army officer in North Korea. Mr. Son and his family defected to China. It was in China that Mr. Son met a missionary and gave his life to Christ. In time, he felt called to be an evangelist to his homeland of North Korea. Before Mr. Son could make plans to secretly travel back to North Korea, he was arrested by Chinese police and extradited. Back in his homeland, he was convicted of his "illegal" Christian activities and served three years of imprisonment and brutal torture. After his release, Mr. Son made his way back to China and continued his biblical studies. Once again, he felt called to share Christ with the many lost souls of North Korea. Mr. Sons friends begged him not to return to North Korea -- it was just too dangerous. But with the call of God on his life, he returned to share the Good News. Mr. Son was arrested again in January 2006 and was sentenced to be publicly executed for his persistent Christian work. (He is still in prison.)

· (Afghanistan) Abdul Rahman, 41, faces death because he converted from Islam to Christianity and refuses to convert back to Islam. His family accused him of being a Christian. During his trial last Thursday in Kabul, Rahman confessed that he converted from Islam to Christianity 16 years ago while working as a medical aid worker for an international Christian group helping Afghan refugees in the Pakistani city of Peshawar. "We are not against any particular religion in the world. But in Afghanistan, this sort of thing is against the law. It is an attack on Islam," Judge Ansarullah Mawlavezada said. The prosecutor, Abdul Wasi, said he offered to drop the charges if Mr. Rahman converted back to Islam, but Rahman refused. "He would have been forgiven if he changed back. But he said he was a Christian and would always remain one. We are Muslims, and becoming a Christian is against our laws. He must get the death penalty," Wasi said. (March 20, 2006)

· (Nigeria) Davou Bulle, his wife Mary, and their 10 children each climbed into the van, exhausted from another full day of work on their family's farm. He started to pull away but was soon jarred to attention by the sound of gunshots hitting the tires. They were being ambushed because of his faith! The Muslim attackers soon aimed their weapons at the driver, in hopes to first kill the Christian "infidel" then kill his entire family. In an attempt to protect his father son Gyan lunged at the bullets to shield him but the bullets found their way to their intended target, killing Davou. Gyan, trying to help his father, took 14 bullets during the ambush. Davou's wife Mary was hit in the eye during the attack. Mary was taken into surgery immediately. She lost one of her eyes as a result of the attack. Son Gyan was also operated on removing all 14 bullets from his body miraculously he survived! Davou left behind a wife and 10 children.

· (China) When 34-year old Jiang Zongxiu went to her neighboring market last June in Guizhou Province, China. Along with her mother-in-law, Jiang went through the marketplace, taking opportunities to hand out Bibles and Christian literature and telling people about Jesus. Only this day they had an encounter with the Chinese police. The two Christian women were handcuffed together and brought to the police station. They were interrogated throughout the evening of the 17th. The next morning they were sentenced by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) to 15 days incarceration for "suspected spreading of rumor and disturbing the social order." Jiang and her mother-in-law knew the risk of spreading Christian literature in communist China. Both had been active in their church for more than 10 years and dared to go forth. Even when they were arrested, interrogated and sentenced to serve 15 days, they were willing to accept the consequences of their actions - all from a government that claims to have "freedom of religion." But it was not enough for the PSB to arrest and beat these two Christian women for the crime of passing our Christian literature. In the afternoon of June 18th, Mrs. Jiang Zongziu was pronounced dead by the PSB office of Tongzi County. They claimed she died of "natural causes." The fact is she was beaten to death.

· (India) On February 10, 2007, 58-year-old Christian, S. Stanley, was stabbed and killed by rioting youth in front of his house in Pavaloor, Kerala State, India. Youths assembled in front of his house shouting blasphemous abuses against Christians. When Stanley and his wife asked the youths to leave, they became angry and stoned the house. While Stanley was inside the house calling the police, the attackers climbed over the locked gate, entered the house and stabbed him several times on his back, neck and stomach.

(Acts 8:1) Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

· Compare to Josh McDowell and Lee Strobel, both staunch atheists who looked at the facts and became Christians. All 3 lives were radically transformed by his encounter with the Lord.

(Acts 8:2) And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

(Acts 8:3) As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

· Some people may struggle with accepting God's forgiveness for terrible things they've done in the past. Do you? We see Saul's transformation, and the total forgiveness he received (Col 1:1, 2:14).

(1 Tim 3:1) This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.

· Elder (Gk. "presbuteros") and overseer (bishop) (Gk. "episkopos") designate the same office (vs 10,12, Titus 1:5,7; Acts 20:17-28, 1 Pet 5:1-2, Phil 1:1), the former referring to the man, the latter to a function of the office. The eldership in the apostolic churches was usually plural; there is no instance of only one elder in a local church. The functions of the elders are to rule (1 Tim 3:4-5; 5:17), to teach (1 Tim 5:17), to guard the body of revealed truth from perversion and error (Titus 1:9), and to oversee the church as a shepherd oversees his flock (John 21:16, Acts 20:28, Heb 13:17, 1 Pet 5:2, James 5:14). Elders are set by the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:28), but great care is taken in the appointment decisions (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5). In Titus and 1 Timothy the qualifications of an elder are listed in Scripture for the guidance of the churches in making such appointments (1 Tim 3:1 - 7).

· Note that the office of elder is a good work, but it is work which requires diligence and effort. Those in this office are not in it for recognition or position (although there are benefits listed in vs 13), but to meet the needs of others. They are to be mostly a servant, as Christ was (Mark 10:45).

· It is a good work of greatest importance, focused on nothing less than the life and happiness of souls.

· The position of elder should only be offered to those who desire it, to those who feel led by the Holy Spirit to take the position. Without that desire and appointment by the Holy Spirit, even if the person has the qualities of an elder, it won't work, and the church is headed for trouble.

(1 Tim 3:2) A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;

· Here begins the list of qualifications for the office of elder. Note that these are also the qualities of a godly man, for all men should strive to attain to these qualities.

· Blameless - he must give little occasion for blame, for this would reflect poorly on the church, and on Jesus Christ Himself.

· The husband of one wife - (see also vs 12) he must not be divorced, a widower, or a polygamist. This implies also not an adulterer.

· Temperate - balanced, watchful, sober, circumspect, i.e. thoughtful and careful about his actions

· Sober-minded - (see also Titus 1:8) - desires and passions are under control; makes good and proper decisions

· Of good behavior - a gentleman, avoids rough or boorish behavior; also careful about his appearance

· Hospitable - makes people feel comfortable and welcome in his presence, whether at home or away from home

· Able to teach - (see also Titus 1:9) can counsel, use Scripture, guide, instruct, draw others to God. All men are called to be able to teach. Not all men are to become formal teachers, but all are called to be able to teach.

(1 Tim 3:3) not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;

· Not given to (much) wine - (see also vs 8) avoids alcohol. See notes on Prov 23:29.

· Not violent - not a fighter, not quarrelsome; doesn't demand his rights, allows others to "win" or have the better results

· Not greedy for money - (Phil 4:11, 1 Tim 6:10) is content, isn't absorbed with money, either making it or what he doesn't have; doesn't gamble

· Gentle - mild, tender, caring, aware of others' state of mind and responds appropriately

· Not quarrelsome - similar to not violent, but with words

· Not covetous - similar to not greedy for money

(1 Tim 3:4) one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence

· One who rules his own house well - (see also vs 12). Do his children obey? Do they treat him respectfully? Is his house in order?

· Note that how a man runs his household will reflect how He will serve God's church (vs 5).

(1 Tim 3:5) (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);

(1 Tim 3:6) not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

· Not a novice - there is the danger of giving a new Christian an office in the church, that it might be of more value than it ought. This relates to this being servant position, not a glory position.

(1 Tim 3:7) Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

· Have a good testimony among those who are outside - an elder would have questionable character if he is respected in the church but not respected outside the church. His life style must be consistent and respectful wherever he is.

(1 Tim 3:8) Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money,

· Reverent - treats in an honorable fashion what should be honored, e.g. his father and mother (Ex 20:12). Also, his jokes are never out of line.

· Not double-tongued - he is consistent in his speech, whether at home, work, church, by himself, or with his closest friends.

· Not given to much wine - see vs 3. See notes on Prov 23:29.

· Not greedy for money - see vs 3.

(1 Tim 3:9) holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.

· Holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience - he treats the Scripture and the things of God so that he will not be condemned. He knows in his own conscience that he treats the gospel properly. He doesn't mock the things of God, externally or internally.

(Titus 1:5) For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you;

· In verses 5-9 we see a list of the qualities of a godly man. See also Acts 6:3 and 1 Tim 3:1-9. What qualities do we see here?

· blameless - s literally, without[1] indictment or accusation, unchargeable. He is one who has nothing that can be brought against him. This word stands at the head of the list as the general or broad quality that covers the whole of an elders life. Those qualifications that follow give the many details which will test his blamelessness. His lifestyle is such that no one can legitimately accuse him of conduct which is not befitting a mature believer and one who is a steward of God. He is not perfect or without room for improvement in any of these areas, but "blameless" is consistently a descriptor of his life. The following traits need to overall be descriptive of his life. Place your name before each of these. Can you, and it sound right? Would your wife and children agree?

· husband of one wife - married and dedicated to her; not easily distracted by other women

· his children are faithful in their relationship to God, not found in dissipation (spending time on useless and wasteful things) or insubordination (lack of respect to elders)

· a steward of God - he conscientiously and faithfully manages what money and belongings God has given him

· not self-willed - is known for focusing on others rather than self; is selfless

· not quick-tempered, self-controlled - not easily angered; doesn't have a short fuse; forgives quickly and totally; is patient; has control over his emotions

· not given to wine - see notes on Prov 23:29

· not violent - does not act with violence in speech, writing, or physically towards others; controls himself physically

· not greedy for money - how much of a passion do you have for wealth, for increase? how much time do you spend on it? how consumed are you? how freely do you give?

· hospitable - makes people feel welcome in his presence, whether at home or any other place

· lover of what is good - does he like the things that God likes, and reject the things He doesn't?

· sober-minded - acts rationally, makes thoughtful decisions; thinks clearly when making decisions; decision-making is respected by family and friends

· just - acts fairly to people without prejudice; makes fair, tough decisions when needed

· holy - is involved in the things God approves of, and avoid what God doesn't approve of; speaks the same way; people can see his relationship with God

· holds fast God's word, soundly, to exhort and convict - does he work to have a good grasp of God's word? can you see progress in his understanding of God through His word?

(Titus 1:6) if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.

(Titus 1:7) For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,

(Titus 1:8) but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,

(Titus 1:9) holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.