Ethnic Cultural Differences (Acts 6:1-15)

1. Who are the Hellenists and the Hebrews (Ac 6:1a)? Why were the widows among the Hellenists "neglected in the daily distribution" (Acts 6:1b)? Does sin rear its ugly head even in the healthiest church? How? Who might we be inclined to favor or side with?
2. Why shouldn't the twelve Apostles neglect the word of God and serve tables (Acts 6:2; Jn 6:63; 17:17; 2 Tim 3:16; Rom 12:4-8; 1 Cor 12:12-26)? Should teachers only teach (Ac 6:4; Ac 18:1-3; Jn 13:13-15)?
3. Who chose the seven men (Ac 6:3a)? What were the 2 criteria for these 7 deacons (Ac 6:3b)? Why "seven"? What is peculiar about the names of the seven (Ac 6:5-6)? What 3 things happened (Ac 6:7)? What is meant by "a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith" (Acts 6:7b)? Would this trigger greater persecution?
4. What set Stephen apart (Ac 6:8)? Who was "the Synagogue of the Freedmen" (Acts 6:9a)? Was Stephen's only gift church management (Ac 6:9-10)? What accusations did they bring against him (Ac 6:11-14)?Why (Jn 15:20; Mt 10:16-20)?
5. Did Jesus say He will destroy the temple (Mk 13:1-2)? To what extent was Jesus' prophecy fulfilled? Did Jesus say that He will "change the customs which Moses handed down to us [the Jews]" (Ac 6:14; Mt 5:17-18)? Was Stephen's sermon the longest in the Bible preached by a disciple of Jesus (Acts 7)?